Federal prosecutors in Georgia have charged Zhu Chen, his nephew Jiayi Chen, and Jianjun Lu, a Chinese national, with forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and alien harboring over an alleged scheme involving migrant workers at the Cartersville flooring factory.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the defendants allegedly recruited workers through promises of employment using B-1 and L-1 visas before forcing them into 12-hour shifts under unsafe conditions and paying them less than promised. Prosecutors also allege that workers faced threats of physical violence, deportation, and excessive fees if they refused orders.
The migrants were reportedly housed in overcrowded, unsanitary apartments controlled by the defendants, who prevented them from selecting their own accommodations. Authorities indicated some workers were unlawfully present in the United States, leaving them particularly vulnerable to exploitation. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated that the case demonstrates the government’s commitment to prosecuting those who profit from labor trafficking and immigration violations. Homeland Security Investigations described the indictment as a significant step toward protecting victims and dismantling labor-trafficking networks.
“The defendants allegedly threatened foreign workers with physical violence, deportation, and crippling debt; forced them to work lengthy shifts; and housed them in overcrowded and dirty residences,” Hertzberg said. The defendants now face federal prosecution as authorities continue investigating the alleged forced-labor operation.
