A 70-year-old man from Folsom, California, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for visa fraud. Marcus Taslim was also ordered to pay the victim $39,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, Taslim brought the victim to the United States from Indonesia in December 2018 to provide caregiving services for Taslim’s mother. He obtained a non-immigrant visa for the victim through lies and false statements, falsely representing to a consular officer that the victim’s length of stay in the United States would only be one month, that she would be paid minimum and overtime wages under the laws of the State of California, that she would be paid bi-weekly and in full, and that he had paid the victim’s one-month salary in advance.
Taslim knew these statements were not true. As soon as the consular officer received proof that Taslim had paid the victim’s advance salary, he ordered the victim to withdraw that money and return it to him, which she did.
The victim continued caring for the mother in the United States for about six months. She typically worked seven days a week, beginning work as early as 5 or 6 a.m. and ending at about 8 or 9 p.m. Taslim paid the victim far less than minimum wage, did not pay her bi-weekly and in full, and also confiscated her passport so she could not leave.
The victim was only able to leave in June 2019, following intercession from the Folsom Police Department. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong prosecuted the case. Taslim, 70, of Folsom, was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison for visa fraud. The exact date of sentencing was not specified in the press release.
Mandatory facts: Defendant: Marcus Taslim; Criminal charges: Visa fraud; City and state: Folsom, California; Exact date: Not specified; Sentence: 15 months in prison; Dollar amounts: $39,000 in restitution.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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