In the summer of 2005, Mohammad Atahee (then age 33) married a 13 year-old girl in Afghanistan and then brought her back to the US and coerced her into being a slave at homes in Federal Way and Auburn. Atahee is also accused in court documents of beating and sexually assaulting the girl at his Federal Way home. Atahee (now 37) and the Yousuf family (Nasima Yousuf, 70; Mohammad Yousuf, 84; Nahid Yousufi, 29; and Maruf Yousufi, 42) forced the teen to cook, clean and do laundry. For about 18 months beginning in August 2006, Atahee required the girl to "perform all the household chores in his home and restricted activities outside of the home" at 2511 S. 286th Place, Federal Way, WA. During the same period the Yousufis required her to perform all the household chores and care for their children at 28004 33rd Ave. S., Auburn, WA.
Location
United States · Lakeland North, Washington · 2008
(location generalized to protect survivors) Response & intervention
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Mohammad Atahee and the four members of the Yousuf family on Wednesday Oct 15, 2008. Mohammad Atahee and Mohammad Yousuf pleaded not guilty Wednesday. The other three defendants deferred arraignment until a later date. If found guilty on the conspiracy charge, the defendants face up to five years in a federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
On Aug. 6, 2006, Atahee assaulted the girl, who reported it to the Federal Way police. The next day, Nahid Yousufi "threatened the girl with deportation and harm to her family to coerce her to recant her statement to the police" about the assault. On Jan. 26, 2008, Atahee raped the girl, court documents say. She reported the rape to Federal Way police. Nahid Yousufi lied to Child Protective Services, saying that the girl was 24 years old, in an attempt to cause the girl to be returned to Atahee. Since then, the girl (now 16) has been living in a safe location.
Uncertain
Uncertain FOR MORE INFO ON THIS CASE, please see: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/383390_slavery16.html
The victim was able to escape to local police station
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). Use “Report a problem” below to add a source or flag an issue.