After pleading guilty to labor trafficking, aggravated sexual abuse and other misconduct charge in August of 2009, Lassissi Afolabi a resident from the New York area was sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison and a restitution of approximately $3.9 million, which doubled the amount of misappropriate wages and compensatory damages to his victims.
Between October 2002 and September 2007, Afolabi conspired with his family to smuggle illegal Togolese women and girls, and forced them into long hours of labor without earnings. Afolabi and his former spouse, Akouavi Kpade Afolabi required these women to work at their hair braiding salon for up to 14 hours day and 7 days a week.
The Afolabi family admitted to confiscating their passports and/or identification to keep them from fleeing. Sexual and Psychological abuse was also used to discipline their workers.
Afolabi’s sentencing followed that of his ex-wife Akouavi Kpade Afolabi and her son, Dereck Hounakey.
