New York: An Indian couple in Kentucky has been arrested for illegally bringing Indians into the US and making them work long hours for low wages at their fast food restaurants.
Federal prosecutors have charged Amrutlal Patel and his wife, Dakshaben Patel, both 46, with housing, transporting and employing illegal aliens.
The couple operates four Subway restaurants in Lexington and employed undocumented Indian nationals who worked 10-12 hours a day throughout the week for little pay, a statement said.
That provided a “substantial financial gain” for the Patels, Assistant US Attorney Hydee Hawkins said.
Federal prosecutors have said the Patels are a flight risk and could flee the US for India if they are released.
They can use the large amounts of cash they have from their businesses to flee and have already sent about USD 100,000 back to India, the prosecutors said.
Defence attorneys have argued that the Patels will not leave the country because of their business and two young children. The couple came to the US in 2006, hoping to become citizens.
They added that the Patels were trying to help fellow Indian nationals by providing them jobs in the US.
According to a sworn statement from Homeland Security Investigations agent David Ramalho, an employee at one of the restaurants run by the Patels told a witness that he had been denied food and allegedly beaten up by the couple.
