An indictment was unsealed in Madison, Wisconsin, charging a Wisconsin man, Luis Abreu, with seven counts of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and seven counts of alien harboring for private financial gain. His wife, Cybell Abreu, is also charged with seven counts of forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor.
The charges allege that between September 2015 and March 2018, the Abreus utilized threats of harm and abused legal processes to coerce seven minor males and young men into performing labor and services. It is further alleged that Luis Abreu harbored these individuals, knowing or disregarding that they were unlawfully present in the United States.
The defendants made their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Wisconsin on April 21. A conviction for forced labor could result in a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Alien harboring for commercial advantage or private financial gain carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge in accordance with the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory guidelines.
The announcement of the indictment was made by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Homeland Security Investigations Resident Agent in Charge Eric Rice of the HSI Milwaukee Office.
The investigation was conducted by the HSI Milwaukee Office of the Resident Agent in Charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger for the Western District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are handling the prosecution.
For anyone affected by human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 is available for support.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.