KAMDEN – A woman from Moorstown is accused of taking the passports of two people who were illegally in the country and then forcing them to provide work and other services.
Bolagi Balarinwa, 47, allegedly “knew that both victims had entered the United States illegally and was shielding them from revealing for their own financial gain,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey.
Balarinva also “abused and threatened to abuse the trial” against the alleged victims, according to a statement from the federal prosecutor’s office.
It also claimed that her wife, 65-year-old Isiyaka Balarinva, “took part in the scheme and benefited financially from the forced labor of the victims.”
The indictment states that the victims were women, but details of their origin are not reported.
It alleges that Bolaji Balarinva “illegally obtained work and services” from victims between November 2015 and October 2016.
She allegedly forced one woman “by means of serious injury or the threat of causing serious injury.” The second woman was charged with “using force or threatening to use force.”
Bolaghi Balarinwa’s lawyer, Jeffrey Zucker of Camden, did not respond to a request for comment.
Court records did not identify a lawyer representing Isiaki Balarinwa.
Balarin is accused of two articles on forced labor, the statement said.
Bolagi Balarinwa is also accused of attracting and harboring some foreigners, as well as of illegal conduct with regard to documents in order to facilitate forced labor.
Charges are just charges. Ballarins were not convicted in the case.
Jim Walsh covers state security, economic development and other articles for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.
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