USCIS Assists Federal Operation Targeting Nebraska Human Trafficking Ring at Area Hotels
At least one defendant is charged with U visa fraud-related charges
OMAHA, Neb. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided valuable assistance to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies during a coordinated operation targeting a human trafficking ring operating in Omaha-area hotels.
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that five people were charged by complaint for a range of federal violations that center around their alleged conspiracy to engage in labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and harboring of aliens at several hotel locations across the Omaha metro area and into central Nebraska. The defendants own, operate, and manage several hotels in the Omaha metro area.
The five charged and arrested are:
- Kentakumar Chaudhari, a/k/a Ken Chaudhari, age 36, of Elkhorn, NE;
- Rashmi Ajit Samani, a/k/a Falguni Samani, age 42, of Elkhorn, NE;
- Amit Prahladbhai Chaudhari, a/k/a Amit, age 32, of Omaha;
- Amit Babubhai Chaudhari, a/k/a Matt, age 33, of Omaha; and
- Maheshkumar Chaudhari, a/k/a Mahesh, age 38, of Norfolk, NE.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement partners worked together to safely execute search warrants at 14 business premises and two residential locations associated with the defendants.
During the operation, 10 minors were rescued from an alleged labor trafficking conspiracy that involved putting children under the age of 12 to work at hotels for long hours with little to no pay. Seventeen adult victims were also rescued from the same conspiracy. The complaint affidavit details the allegedly exploitative conditions these victims were subjected to while being required to pay the defendants for their lodging at the hotels.
The U. S. Attorney’s Office has alleged that one or more of the defendants were engaged in a sex trafficking conspiracy that allegedly victimized both minors and adults, and multiple defendants are alleged to have maintained these hotels as premises to conduct drug trafficking freely.
At least one of the defendants is charged with a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government by instigating a criminal scheme designed to fraudulently obtain U visas. The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
The complaint further alleges one defendant engaged in conversations about the cost to bring someone from India to America and alleges that aliens were being transported by co-conspirators between Nebraska and Washington for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining Washington state driver’s licenses for around $1,000 per document.
U.S. Attorney Woods commended the unparalleled investigative coordination and accomplishment of this case achieved by the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, the Omaha Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Branch, the United States Marshals Service, and the Nebraska State Attorney General’s Office. USCIS assistance included furnishing immigration status updates and verifying immigration documentation.
The redacted complaint affidavit contains a more complete summary of the allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This is an ongoing federal investigation. The FBI requests anyone having additional information on the crimes occurring at these locations or other business locations in Nebraska where similar crimes occurred, contact the Omaha FBI field office.
Protecting the integrity of the immigration process is a priority for USCIS. To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit USCIS.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.