5 accused of enslaving teenage Afghan girl
SEATTLE - Five people have been arrested after a grand jury handed down an indictment accusing them of enslaving a teenage Afghani girl for more than two years.
One of the suspects also allegedly beat and sexually assaulted the girl while she was forced to live with him, according to the indictment and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle.
The abuse started two years ago when the girl was 14 and continued until earlier this year, when good Samaritans reported the abuse to police and she was taken to a safe location.
According to the indictment, Mohammad Yousuf, 84, and Nasima Yousuf, 70, of Federal Way lied on immigration applications to bring the girl into the United States, claiming that the girl was Nasima Yousuf's daughter.
Once in the U.S., the girl was forced to do household labor for Nahid Yousufi, 29, and Maruf Yousufi, 42, of Auburn, and their family friend Mohammad Atahee, 37, of Federal Way, according to the indictment.
It was Atahee who allegedly beat and sexually assaulted the girl while she was forced to live with him, according to the indictment.
All five of the suspects have been charged with conspiracy to engage in forced labor. The Yousufs were also charged with visa fraud.
Four of the five are related by blood or marriage, though none of the defendants are related to the girl who was victimized.
According to the indictment returned by the grand jury last week, the conspirators arranged for Atahee to be married to the juvenile in Afghanistan when she was just 13 years old and he was 33 years old.
However, a District Court judge in King County refused to allow Mohammad Atahee to marry the girl in the United States.
Mohammad Yousuf and Nasima Yousuf filled out immigration forms claiming that the juvenile was Nasima Yousuf's biological daughter and was the stepdaughter of Mohammad Yousuf.
Once in the United States, in summer 2006, the girl was forced to live with Atahee and perform all household tasks.
She first reported an assault by Atahee in August 2006, but Nahid Yousufi directed the girl to recant the report, and then sent her back to live with Atahee.
The indictment also alleges she was forced to provide cooking, cleaning and child care three days a week to Nahid Yousufi and Maruf Yousufi.
For a time she was not allowed to attend school, the indictment says.
The indictment further alleges that in January 2008, the juvenile was sexually assaulted by Mohammad Atahee. With the support of good Samaritans, the sexual assault was reported to the police. Since that time she has been residing in a safe location.
All five defendants made their initial appearances in federal court. Trial is set for Dec. 23.
If convicted of the conspiracy charge the defendants face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
If convicted of visa fraud, the Yousufs face up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. attorneys Ye-Ting Woo and Patricia Lally.
One of the suspects also allegedly beat and sexually assaulted the girl while she was forced to live with him, according to the indictment and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle.
The abuse started two years ago when the girl was 14 and continued until earlier this year, when good Samaritans reported the abuse to police and she was taken to a safe location.
According to the indictment, Mohammad Yousuf, 84, and Nasima Yousuf, 70, of Federal Way lied on immigration applications to bring the girl into the United States, claiming that the girl was Nasima Yousuf's daughter.
Once in the U.S., the girl was forced to do household labor for Nahid Yousufi, 29, and Maruf Yousufi, 42, of Auburn, and their family friend Mohammad Atahee, 37, of Federal Way, according to the indictment.
It was Atahee who allegedly beat and sexually assaulted the girl while she was forced to live with him, according to the indictment.
All five of the suspects have been charged with conspiracy to engage in forced labor. The Yousufs were also charged with visa fraud.
Four of the five are related by blood or marriage, though none of the defendants are related to the girl who was victimized.
According to the indictment returned by the grand jury last week, the conspirators arranged for Atahee to be married to the juvenile in Afghanistan when she was just 13 years old and he was 33 years old.
However, a District Court judge in King County refused to allow Mohammad Atahee to marry the girl in the United States.
Mohammad Yousuf and Nasima Yousuf filled out immigration forms claiming that the juvenile was Nasima Yousuf's biological daughter and was the stepdaughter of Mohammad Yousuf.
Once in the United States, in summer 2006, the girl was forced to live with Atahee and perform all household tasks.
She first reported an assault by Atahee in August 2006, but Nahid Yousufi directed the girl to recant the report, and then sent her back to live with Atahee.
The indictment also alleges she was forced to provide cooking, cleaning and child care three days a week to Nahid Yousufi and Maruf Yousufi.
For a time she was not allowed to attend school, the indictment says.
The indictment further alleges that in January 2008, the juvenile was sexually assaulted by Mohammad Atahee. With the support of good Samaritans, the sexual assault was reported to the police. Since that time she has been residing in a safe location.
All five defendants made their initial appearances in federal court. Trial is set for Dec. 23.
If convicted of the conspiracy charge the defendants face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
If convicted of visa fraud, the Yousufs face up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. attorneys Ye-Ting Woo and Patricia Lally.