2 US motel owners jailed for exploiting Pinoys

ABERDEEN, South Dakota - Two Oacoma motel owners convicted of forcing several Filipino immigrants into servitude and peonage were sentenced Friday evening (Saturday in Manila).

US District Judge Charles Kornmann sentenced Robert John Farrell to 4 years and 2 months in federal prison and his wife, Angelita Magat Farrell, to 36 years.

A federal jury in November found the couple guilty on 18 charges including conspiracy to commit peonage, four counts of peonage, document servitude, visa fraud and two counts of false statements.

Prosecutors say the Farrells made the immigrants work as many as 160 hours a week while being paid virtually nothing. - AP

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