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NOTE: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/co/0609b05Frame1Source1.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 9, 2005

HOMAIDAN AL-TURKI AND SARAH KHOAIZAN INDICTED FOR FORCED LABOR, DOCUMENT SERVITUDE, AND HARBORING

DENVER – Bill Leone, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, James Casey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Jeffrey Copp, Special Agent in Charge of the Denver office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), announced that HOMAIDAN AL-TURKI, age 36, and his wife SARAH KHONAIZAN, age 35, both of Aurora, were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Denver on charges of forced labor, document servitude and harboring an illegal alien. AL-TURKI and KHONAIZAN are being held in Arapahoe County on related state charges.

According to the indictment, starting on September 10, 2000 and ending on November 18, 2004, AL-TURKI and KHONAIZAN allegedly obtained and aided and abetted obtaining the continued labor services of an Indonesian woman by creating a climate of fear and intimidation through aggravated sexual abuse and other means, which was intended to cause the victim to believe that had she not performed the services, including cooking, cleaning, child care and other domestic labor, that she would suffer serious harm. The defendants also allegedly threatened the victim with abuse of law and the legal process. During that same time frame, the defendants allegedly confiscated and concealed the victim’s Indonesian passport and United States visa, and harbored her for the purpose of obtaining domestic services for little or no wages or pay, knowing that she was illegally in the United States.

AL-TURKI faces sexual assault charges in Arapahoe County in relation to his conduct with the victim in this case.

The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation, stating that the victim is entitled to $92,700, which represents a conservative estimate of the gross proceeds she would have been entitled to had she been paid lawfully.

Both defendants face: One count of forced labor including aggravated sexual abuse, which carries a penalty of up to life in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine; one count of document servitude, which carries a penalty of not more than 5 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine; and one count of harboring an alien, which carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine. The defendants’ actual prison sentence will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge in Denver.

“In a free country such as ours, during these modern times, it is unconscionable that individuals would take such tremendous advantage of another,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge James Casey. “In this case the victim came into the United States legally, only to have her freedom taken away. That conduct is criminal, and there can and will be consequences.”

“Few crimes are more repugnant to our society that enslaving other human beings,” said Jeffrey Copp, special agent in charge of the Denver Office of Investigations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “It's hard for many people to believe that forced labor still exists in this country. Anyone who suspects such crimes are occurring should call the ICE hotline at: 866-DHS-2ICE.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenda Taylor.

These charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

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