Four people of Indian descent have been arrested and charged in Texas for allegedly forcing possibly more than 100 people into confined housing and doing computer-related labor.
A pest control company became concerned after offering bedbug treatment at a home in Princeton, Texas, about 40 miles northeast of Dallas, in March: When its crew arrived, they found three to five women crammed into each room, with suitcases strewn everywhere.
Further investigation revealed that the forced labor scheme likely involved more than 100 male and female victims and took place in multiple locations, including the nearby cities of Melissa and McKinney.
The company contacted Princeton police, asking them to check on the home, and detectives eventually obtained a search warrant for the home, and what they found there was shocking.
according to ReportsAt least 15 women lived in the house and worked as programmers for a shell company owned by the homeowner, Santosh Katkouri, and his wife, Dwaraka Gunda, both 31.
Police said investigators found “multiple” electronic devices at the home, including a laptop, cellphone and a printer. press release Documents allegedly forged were also discovered.
Further investigation revealed that this forced labor scheme likely 100 victimsBoth men and women were arrested at multiple locations, including the nearby cities of Melissa and McKinney. Electronic devices and “documents” were also seized from the locations, according to the press release.
On Monday, four people — Katkoori, Gunda, Chandan Dashireddy, 24, and Anil Male, 37 — were arrested and charged with human trafficking, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
A press release said the four suspects currently live in Texas, but other reports have said they may originally be from southeastern India. “Four individuals from the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were arrested in Collin County, Texas, US, on Monday on human trafficking charges,” one media article said. HinduAn outlet based in India.
of Times of India Using similar language, he described the suspects as “four persons of Telugu descent”.
The BlazeNews left a message with the Princeton detective working the case seeking more details about the suspect’s nationality, but did not receive a return call.
Police have indicated that more arrests are possible in the case and that other charges may also be filed.
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