They came to the United States with hopes of a brighter future. What the two victims of Bolaji and Isiaka Bolarinwa found instead was a miserable existence, trapped in a life of slavery at the hands of two Nigerian immigrants, who themselves once came to the U.S. to seek better lives.
Couple Convicted of Charges Related to Human Trafficking
A federal court found Bolaji Bolarinwa and Isiaka Bolarinwa guilty by a federal court on Wednesday of charges related to a forced labor scheme in which prosecutors say they tricked two women into coming to U.S only to enslave them.
The Bolarinwas were immigrants themselves, originally from Nigeria but currently U.S. citizens, said a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated April 24.
The Bolarinwas forced their victims to work around the clock, providing housekeeping and childcare services up to 24 hours per day with no days off, according to prosecutors.
“These defendants engaged in an egregious bait-and-switch, luring the victims with false promises of a life and an education in the United States, and instead subjected them to grueling hours, physical abuse and psychological abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey in a second Department of Justice press release.
“Forced labor and human trafficking are abhorrent crimes that have no place in our society,” Sellinger said.
Allegations Involved Passport Withholding and Physical Abuse
The Bolarinwas lured two victims from overseas to live in their New Jersey home in 2015 and 2016. In both cases, Bolaji Bolarinwa took their passports, prosecutors alleged.
Withholding passports and other identity documents is a form of abuse human traffickers use to make their victims feel they have no rights or freedom of movement without their employers’ approval.
Both victims were also subjected to physical abuse by Bolaji. One of the victims was also subjected to physical abuse by Bolaji’s husband, Isiaka.
Document withholding has been illegal in the United States since 2012 when President Obama issued an Executive Order banning this and other practices associated with human trafficking.
The Extent of Human Trafficking in the U.S.
Prosecution of human trafficking offenses has doubled in the past decade, according to a 2023 Bureau of Justice report. Last year, 1,657 prisoners were serving time for human trafficking crimes.
This may only be a drop in the bucket, as many of these crimes go unreported and undetected. Victims of human trafficking are often afraid to seek help from authorities. Some feel vulnerable because of their immigration status or other legal problems.
Bolarinwas Involved in Psychiatric Work
A Healthgrades.com profile for Dr. Isiak Bolarinwa (matching the name, city, and age of the defendant in this case) lists his occupation as a psychiatry specialist in Marlton, NJ. His biography claims he has “extensive experience” in personality and psychotic disorders.
His wife, Bolaji Bolarinwa, is listed as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Marlton, NJ.
Human Trafficking
The two main forms of human trafficking are exploiting people for sex or labor, according to a U.S. Department of State fact sheet published last December. Domestic servitude is a form of forced labor where criminals force trafficked persons to work in private residences.
