Bonded LaborArchive 2008–2016

Bonded Labor in New Orleans, Louisiana (2009)

A bonded labor case from 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

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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

Abrorkhodja Askarkhodjaev, 30, Nodir Yunusov, 22, Rustamjon Shukurov, 21, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Mission; Ilkham Fazilov, 44, Nodirbek Abdoollayev, 27, citizens of Uzbekistan living in Kansas City; Viorel Simon, 27, Alexandru Frumasache , 23, citizens of Moldova living in Kansas City, Kan.; Kristin Dougherty, 49, of Ellisville, Mo.; Andrew Cole, 53, of St. Charles, Mo.; Abdukakhar Azizkhodjaev, 49, a citizen of Uzbekistan living in Panama City, Fla.; and Sandjar Agzamov, 27, and Jakhongir Kakhkharov, 29, citizens of Uzbekistan who recently left the United States

Response and intervention

A 45 count indictment has been brought against the 8 traffickers. Information is scarce base on an ongoing grand jury investigation.

Nearby cases

All 892 in the United States →

Forced Labor2008

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 2008

United States US

Million Express Manpower Inc. recruited 22 Thai workers from Bangkok to work in the agriculture industry in the United States promising them H2A Visas, three years worth of work, and travel/living expenses. The recruiters required each worker to pay up to $11,000 in fees and confiscated their passports and tickets as collateral for payment. Upon arriving in the United State they were forced to work on Howell Farms in North Carolina until they were relocated to New Orleans. In New Orleans they worked on renovating hotels destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The trafficking victims were forced to live in the dilapidated hotels while they were renovating them.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Forced Labor2008

Algiers, Louisiana, United States, 2008

United States US

The workers were trafficked by the Company Audubon Pointe, a New Orleans apartment complex affected by Katrina. Audubon Pointe housed the non documented workers in their unfinished apartments while they renovated other apartments. The workers were frequently unpaid or paid very late. When the workers complained, management threatened to evict them and call the police. These threats forced the workers to continue work without pay.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2010

Arabi, Louisiana, United States, 2010

United States US

In April 2008, a NOLA vice unit was driving around in an unmarked car when Ricky Womack and an "unidentified white female" were seen flagging down cars. They stopped and he offered the girl as a prostitute to the plain-clothed cops for $100. Womack only allowed sexual liaisons to occur in his motel room so that he could protect the girl. The police officers found a "contract" handwritten by the girl in the motel room: 'I do solemnly swear to give Ricky Womack the next five years of my life. I promise never to cheat, lie, or betray him.' The detectives learned the girl was a teenage runaway from Arkansas whom Womack had lured to New Orleans.

3 sourcesArchive 2008–2016