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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?
What happened
Evelyn Pelayo recruited workers in the Philippines, promising them legitimate work at her Long Beach nursing homes (located on East Vernon and East Walton streets). Deafeliz, who teaches taekwondo, listed the recruited workers as students who were visiting the United States for martial arts competitions, and taught them enough taekwondo moves to fool immigration officials. Upon arrival, workers were forced to work at Pelayo's facilities, and their passports were taken by the traffickers, who also threatened arrest, deportation, and theft charges if workers tried to run away. Workers were told not to interact with families of the elderly, and to lie about working conditions and hours if they were questioned by local/state inspectors.
Response and intervention
See "intervention" for details. Rodolfo Deafeliz, Rolleta Riazon, Evelyn Pelayo were jailed in downtown Los Angeles. FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Deafeliz and Riazon as they were boarding a flight to Manila. Pelayo was also arrested. All were jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Both nursing home facilities were closed, and many patients were relocated.