CSEC2008
United States US
From news reports by the Syracuse Post Standard, February 27, 2009, and April 20, 2009. "[Tashia] Edwards, 33, of 203 W. Corning Ave., is accused of forcing a 16-year-old girl to have sex with men. The money she was paid was supposedly to reimburse her for the girl spending the night at Edwards' home. According to police reports, the girl voluntarily stayed at Edwards' home in December, but when she tried to leave the next day, Edwards wouldn't let her go. Instead, Edwards told the girl that she owed Edwards money for food and the room for the night, the victim told police. Edwards physically restrained the girl to keep her from leaving, court records said. Edwards took the girl's clothing, leaving her naked, and threatened the girl with physical harm if the girl did not engage in various sex acts with several males to pay off her expenses, court papers said. " -Syracuse Post Standard, 2/27/2009 and 4/20/2009
CSEC2009
United States US
Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Cali said Edwards could face five to 15 years in prison if she does not carry out her part of the deal. Cali said the prosecution was interested in pursuing sexual assault charges against any men who had sex with the victim at Edwards' home. Authorities said the 16-year-old victim had stayed voluntarily at Edwards' home one night in December. When she tried to leave the next day, Edwards would not let her go for a couple of days, telling her she had to have sex with men to settle the debt owed for spending the night, police reported. In pleading guilty, Edwards admitted being present when several men had sex with the girl in her home.
Forced Labor2010
United States US
The state and federal investigators intervened. The NY Labor Religion Coalition wants to meet with Dan O’Hara (NY State Fair Director) over these allegations and they want the State Labor Department to get involved. The United States Department of Labor has confronted Karageorgis who said intends to pay them; however, he does not have the funds as of now. However, when he was arrested he had three wads of cash in his pocket. The case was dismissed because Karageorgis says he will pay the workers.