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Togo Woman Gets 27 Years in NJ Forced Labor Case‎

By Ruth Manuel-Logan on Sep 21st 2010 1:32PM

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Togo woman gets 27 years in NJ forced labor case‎

Akouavi Afolabi, who, along with her ex-husband and son, operated illegal hair-braiding salons throughout New Jersey, received 27 years in prison.

Afolabi, who forced minors and young women ages 10 to 19 to work for no wages or tips and under inhumane conditions, was convicted on 22 counts last October.

At Monday's sentencing, she was also ordered to pay restitution, totaling $3.9 million.

The children and women were brought over from West Africa on fake visas. They worked grueling hours -- often 14-hour days, seven days a week. All of the girl's earnings were turned over to Afolabi, her ex-husband, Lassissi, and her 33-year-old son Dereck Hounakey.

The women were kept away from friends and family, and they were not allowed to keep their passports or any identification. If any of the women broke the rules, they were punished. Hounakey even admitted to striking a woman for making a simple phone call. Her son also confessed to having sex with several of the women, including one minor.

Both Lassissi and Hounakey pleaded guilty. Lassissi received 24 years and was ordered to pay his victims $3.9 million in mandatory restitution. Hounakey received a 55-month sentence.

Another accomplice, Geoffry Kouevi, received 26 months.



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