Jose Gaytan, Sonia Murillo, Forced Labor Conspiracy, California 2020

Two former church members, Jose Gaytan and Sonia Murillo, have admitted to participating in a forced labor conspiracy in a federal court in San Diego, California.

Gaytan and Murillo, who were affiliated with Imperial Valley Ministries, pleaded guilty to labor trafficking charges on February 27, 2020. They admitted to conspiring with other defendants to benefit financially from the forced labor conspiracy.

According to the indictment, the defendants held program participants against their will, coerced participants to surrender welfare benefits, and compelled participants to panhandle for the financial benefit of the church leaders.

The indictment also alleges that the defendants confiscated identification documents to prevent participants from leaving and to maintain their labor.

Gaytan and Murillo admitted to checking in new participants, obtaining and using their Electronic Benefits Transaction cards, and requiring participants to panhandle on behalf of the church. They also pleaded guilty to a separate offense of Benefits Fraud based on their unauthorized acquisition of SNAP benefits from others.

Gaytan entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Lopez, while Murillo entered her guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge F.A. Gossett. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz on May 5, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer stated, 'The most vulnerable among us are entitled to the protection of the law. We encourage everyone to help identify forced labor victims in all locations or situations where exploitation is possible.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/two-former-church-members-admit-forced-labor-conspiracy