Bobby Paul Edwards of Conway (South Carolina) pleaded guilty to forced labor exploitation of African Americans with otkloneniem in development. The man was sentenced to 10 years in accordance with the law prohibiting slavery and human trafficking.
He also must pay $272 952 to the victim, who worked in the family restaurant Edwards with 12 years of age. Forensic psychologist confirmed that the mental development of the victim corresponds to the level of 7-9-year-olds.
In 2008, Edwards stopped paying its employees and was forced to move to the back room behind the restaurant. The owner demanded that the man worked seven days a week from 6: 00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday and from 6:00 to 14:00 on Sundays free of charge.
The accused beat the victim with a belt, fists, pots and pans. One day he dipped the metal tongs into the hot oil and seared the neck of the victim. Defendant also repeatedly humiliated, shouted, insulted the victim for mistakes or slowness.
Mother-in-law of one of the restaurant waiters told the police about mistreatment of a man in October 2014. Edwards was arrested in 2017. last week he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
«It is almost impossible to imagine that the forcible exploitation continued in this country to this day — half a century after the abolition of slavery,» said assistant attorney General Eric Dreiband from the civil rights Division.
«The Ministry of justice to investigate, prosecute and judge human traffickers involved in the exploitation of the labor of others for the sake of justice and on behalf of their victims.»
