UPDATED: 10:53 pm HST January 13, 2010
HONOLULU -- Mike and Alec Sou run Aloun Farms on the Ewa plain -- known best as the site of the annual pumpkin patch before Halloween -- but Wednesday was no holiday for the Sous.
The pair pleaded guilty to human trafficking for conspiring with a Thai recruiter to bring in 44 workers who were forced to pay up to $16,000 to get to America.
"I think the fear of not being able to pay the debt made these workers incredibly vulnerable," said Clare Hanusz, an attorney for Aloun workers.
The Sous admitted violating federal rules for temporary worker visas, but claim they didn't start out planning to break the law or exploit the workers.
"They feel very badly because some of the allegations that were made caused them to reflect not only on their conduct, but on the predicament the workers were," said Howard Luke, attorney for Alec Sou.
But the workers told KITV and the FBI that they were kept in substandard housing, were not free to leave and had excessive deductions from their paychecks.
"Many of them men made nothing for six weeks, had no money, were relying totally on the Sous for their food for everything, for everything that they needed and often didn't get -- adequate food during the day," said Melissa Vincentry, attorney for the Aloun workers.
Attorneys for many of the victims in this case said the workers are now allowed to stay in this country because as victims of human trafficking they are allowed special visas.
The Sous plea deal includes a promise of $8,000 restitution for each worker. They face up to five years in prison. The Sous could also be sued by the aggrieved workers.
Pair Pleads Guilty To Human Trafficking - Honolulu News Story - KITV Honolulu
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