HOUSTON — A Katy couple has been convicted in a brutal forced labor scheme that ensnared a Nigerian woman for over two years under false pretenses and deception. Sandra Nsobundu, 49, and Chudy Nsobundu, 57, entered guilty pleas in federal court today, admitting to orchestrating a fraud-laden plot to bring a woman into the United States under a falsified visa and then strip her of freedom, pay, and basic dignity while she worked as a live-in nanny and housemaid.
Chudy Nsobundu pleaded guilty to visa fraud, admitting he submitted a fraudulent application to the Department of State containing multiple lies: listing the victim as 20 years older, falsely claiming she was married, and fabricating a story that she was traveling to attend a niece’s graduation. He also submitted a sworn letter stating he was her brother — a lie designed to manipulate U.S. consular officials in Lagos, Nigeria. Sandra Nsobundu, 49, pleaded guilty to unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of forced labor, acknowledging her role in coaching the victim and presenting false documents during the visa interview process.
The deception extended beyond paperwork. After the woman arrived in the U.S. on or about Sept. 29, 2013, the Nsobundus seized her passport and bank records, locking them away to ensure she couldn’t escape or prove her identity. From that day until Oct. 10, 2015, she was confined to the couple’s residence, permitted only two short walks per day with the children. She was never paid a dime — a fact that now triggers a restitution demand of $129,108 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for back wages owed.
Inside the home, the abuse was relentless. The Nsobundus routinely yelled, scolded, and berated the woman for working too slowly or failing to meet their exacting standards. They threatened to send her back to Nigeria if she disobeyed, weaponizing her immigration status to maintain control. These threats, combined with isolation and document confiscation, created a coercive environment designed to force compliance under fear of serious harm — a hallmark of modern-day slavery.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson condemned the couple’s actions as a calculated exploitation of both immigration laws and human vulnerability. “This wasn’t just fraud. It was enslavement,” Magidson said. “They used lies to gain entry, then used fear, isolation, and stolen documents to keep her trapped. That’s not employment — that’s a crime.” Federal investigators with Homeland Security Investigations led the probe, uncovering the full scope of the deception and abuse.
Sentencing is scheduled for a later date. The Nsobundus face up to 20 years in federal prison on the forced labor charge and up to 10 years on the visa fraud count. The case underscores how traffickers exploit legal loopholes and human desperation — and how federal prosecutors are cracking down on domestic servitude hidden behind closed doors in suburban America.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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