Carolina Rojas and Jairo John Gastelo, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking, California 2024

A shocking case of human trafficking has come to light in Simi Valley, California, where a couple has been arrested and charged with forcing asylum-seeking immigrants to work for them.

Carolina Rojas, 50, and her husband Jairo John Gastelo, 45, were taken into custody by federal authorities on charges of conspiracy to commit forced labor and four counts of forced labor. Rojas was separately charged with an additional four counts of trafficking with respect to forced labor, three counts of giving immigration documents to unauthorized persons, one count of encouraging and inducing illegal entry, and one count of witness tampering.

The indictment alleges that the couple recruited foreign nationals from Latin American countries to come to the United States for the purpose of providing forced labor at their home in Simi Valley. Once in the country, the victims were forced to work around-the-clock childcare for a child with special needs and perform other domestic labor without pay.

Rojas allegedly charged the victims a fee for being smuggled into the U.S. and collected their earnings from their jobs at a nearby McDonald’s. She also helped procure fraudulent social security cards and permanent resident cards for the victims to use when seeking jobs.

The couple faces a statutory maximum of five years for conspiracy to commit forced labor and a statutory maximum of 20 years for each charge of forced labor. Rojas faces an additional statutory maximum of 20 years for each charge of trafficking with respect to forced labor, a statutory maximum of 10 years for each charge of giving immigration documents to unauthorized persons, a statutory maximum of 10 years for encouraging and inducing illegal entry, and a statutory maximum of 20 years for witness tampering.

The case highlights the ongoing problem of labor trafficking in the United States. According to the indictment, Rojas and Gastelo’s activities continued until at least March 2024. A federal magistrate judge ordered them detained and scheduled a trial for April 8.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant/Respondent: Carolina Rojas and Jairo John Gastelo, Real full name or legal entity name. Exact criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit forced labor, four counts of forced labor, four counts of trafficking with respect to forced labor, three counts of giving immigration documents to unauthorized persons, one count of encouraging and inducing illegal entry, and one count of witness tampering. City and state: Simi Valley, California. Exact date: The indictment alleges that the activities continued until at least March 2024. Sentence or outcome: The couple is currently detained and scheduled for trial on April 8.

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