3 charged with human smuggling, forced labor in Woburn

[Judi Lynn]

April 05, 2023
The Associated Press


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3 charged with human smuggling, forced labor in Woburn
April 05, 2023
The Associated Press
Three members of the same family were charged in what federal prosecutors say was a scheme to smuggle Brazilian immigrants into the U.S. to work at two Woburn restaurants where they were forced to work long hours and threatened with harm.

Jesse James Moraes, 65, and his son Hugo Giovanni Moraes, 43, were charged in a superseding indictment with forced labor and attempted forced labor, according to a statement Tuesday from the Massachusetts U.S. attorney's office. They are the owners of Taste of Brazil-Tudo Na Brasa and The Dog House Bar and Grill.

Chelbe Willams Moraes, 62, who lives in Brazil and is the brother of Jesse Moraes, was charged with labor trafficking, attempted labor trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, prosecutors said.

“Individuals seeking to come to the United States for a better life to benefit themselves and their families were allegedly taken advantage of and deceived,” U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement. “We allege that these defendants endangered the victims they smuggled and compelled them to work through threats of violence and other serious harm."

. . .

Prosecutors say Chelbe Moraes smuggled migrants from Brazil into the U.S. for fees of up to $22,000. Jesse Moraes and Hugo Moraes then recruited those people to work in their restaurants and live in apartments they owned, authorities said.

More:
https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/04/05/woburn-brazile-restaurant-forced-labor