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Dozens Of Foreign Workers Trafficked At GA Plant Freed In Raid: FBI

On Wednesday, federal and local authorities, including the FBI, Homeland Security, GBI, and Bartow County Sheriff's Office, executed search warrants at Wellmade Industries in Bartow County and several residences as part of a labor trafficking investigation.
A months-long investigation revealed Wellmade Industries, owned by Zhu 'George' Chen, allegedly used fraud and coercion to induce Chinese nationals and other immigrants to work at its Cartersville flooring manufacturing facility, founded in 2019.
Inspectors had cited at least nine violations at Wellmade since 2022, including amputation, entrapment, and hearing loss hazards, as well as flying chips and sparks.
Dave McCleary, with the Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery, stated that federal agents are working to connect trafficked workers with housing and legal aid, emphasizing that they are victims brought to the U.S. For unfair or unpaid wages.
Zhu Chen was arrested and faces three counts of trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude, while authorities are assisting dozens of potential victims with the help of 20 linguists and a victim specialist; the U.S. Attorney's Office will decide whether to prosecute Chen.

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Georgia business raided by federal authorities amid labor trafficking investigation

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The Georgia Sun

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FBI Raids Georgia Flooring Manufacturer And Rescues Workers From Modern Slavery

The FBI, along with multiple agencies, executed federal search warrants at Wellmade Industries and several homes in Bartow County as part of an active labor trafficking investigation. Authorities allege the company used fraud and coercion to force Chinese nationals and other immigrants to work against their will. “We’ve deployed 20 linguists and victim specialists to assist dozens of potential victims,” an FBI spokesperson said. The operation sp…

5 days ago

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Patch

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Dozens Of Foreign Workers Trafficked At GA Plant Freed In Raid: FBI

Dozens Of Foreign Workers Trafficked At GA Plant Freed In Raid: FBI - Cartersville, GA - The FBI Atlanta says a labor trafficking probe at a Georgia plant shows there could be dozens of foreign workers who have been exploited.

5 days ago·United States

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