Five Indian American Hotel Operators Face Federal Charges Involving Sex Trafficking and Immigration Fraud Across Nebraska
Federal agents descended on four Omaha-area hotels in pre-dawn raids Tuesday morning, dismantling what prosecutors allege was an extensive human trafficking operation that exploited dozens of victims, including 10 children, for forced labor and commercial sex.
The coordinated law enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of five Indian American men, all members of families who owned and operated multiple hotel properties across western and central Nebraska. The sweep also rescued 27 victims and seized more than $565,000 in cash, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nebraska.
The five defendants, all sharing the surname Chaudhari, face a litany of federal charges centered around what prosecutors describe as a conspiracy to engage in labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and harboring of undocumented immigrants:
- Kentakumar Chaudhari, 36, of Elkhorn
- Rashmi Ajit Samani, 42, of Elkhorn
- Amit Prahladbhai Chaudhari, 32, of Omaha
- Amit Babubhai Chaudhari, 33, of Omaha
- Maheshkumar Chaudhari, 38, of Norfolk
The investigation revealed that the defendants owned, operated and managed several hotels in the Omaha metro area, where federal search warrants were executed early Tuesday morning at four locations: the AmericInn on South 13th Court, The Inn (formerly Super 8) on South 145th Street, and two other properties.
Court documents paint a disturbing picture of systematic exploitation. Victims were allegedly forced to work long hours at the hotels for little to no compensation while being charged for their lodging by the same people exploiting their labor. The conditions they endured were deplorable: sleeping on floors in cockroach-infested rooms described by prosecutors as “unclean, unsafe, and unhealthy.”
Law enforcement said they rescued 10 minors and 17 adults from a labor trafficking ring, highlighting the scope of victimization that included some of society’s most vulnerable members.
Law enforcement said they rescued 10 minors and 17 adults from a labor trafficking ring, highlighting the scope of victimization that included some of society’s most vulnerable members.
The operation extended beyond forced labor. Prosecutors allege that the defendants encouraged sex traffickers to use their properties while actively shielding them from law enforcement detection. Victims of sex trafficking faced abuse not only from “customers” but from hotel management and employees as well, according to the indictment.
Multi-Layered Criminal Enterprise
The alleged conspiracy reached far beyond human trafficking. Federal prosecutors say the defendants also:
Immigration Fraud: One defendant is accused of attempting to fraudulently obtain U visas, which are reserved for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse. Court documents detail conversations about the cost of bringing people from India to America and negotiating various prices for such arrangements.
Drug Trafficking: The defendants allegedly provided safe harbor for drug traffickers, allowing narcotics sales on their properties. Several overdose deaths have been reported at at least one location, prosecutors said.
Money Laundering: The substantial cash seizure of over $565,000 points to alleged financial crimes designed to conceal the proceeds of their illicit activities.
Interstate Operations: A co-conspirator allegedly transported undocumented immigrants between Nebraska and Washington to obtain Washington driver’s licenses, suggesting the network’s reach extended beyond state lines.
The investigation involved a coalition of federal, state, and local agencies working in coordination. Search warrants were also executed at “Brow and Lash” salons in various Omaha locations, suggesting the criminal network may have extended into other business sectors.
“There is no evil greater than the evil that seeks to trap, oppress, and exploit human beings for profit or pleasure,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods. “Where that evil exists, Nebraska law enforcement working together at the federal, state, and local levels, as occurred in this case, will seek it, find it, root it out, and ensure every rescued victim has an opportunity to obtain justice and freedom from their captors.”
Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office emphasized the gravity of the crimes: “Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This investigation revealed victims right here in the heart of the heartland forced into sexual activity, living and working in dangerous and filthy conditions, and extorted to work in grueling jobs with little to no pay.”
A Multi-Year Investigation
A multi-year investigation of alleged human trafficking in and around Omaha has led to charges against five people in the hotel business, according to the Nebraska Examiner, indicating the complexity and duration of the law enforcement effort required to build this case.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security’s Investigations division, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Omaha Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, IRS Criminal Investigation Branch, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Nebraska State Attorney General’s Office.
Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI Kansas City, which covers Nebraska, underscored the calculated nature of such crimes: “These criminals hide in the shadows, prey on the vulnerable and show no regard for the laws or values of our nation. Their crimes are calculated to be difficult to uncover, but HSI and our federal partners have no intention of stopping until these predators are brought to justice and every victim is freed from their grip.”
The FBI has specifically requested that anyone with additional information about the criminal conspiracy contact the Omaha Field Office at 402-493-8688 or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov, suggesting investigators believe there may be additional victims or criminal activity yet to be uncovered.
The case represents part of the FBI’s Summer Heat Initiative, focused on arresting violent offenders in communities across the nation. Law enforcement officials emphasize their victim-centered approach, prioritizing the rescue and support of those who have been exploited while working to hold perpetrators accountable.
The defendants face serious federal charges that could result in lengthy prison sentences if convicted. The case serves as a stark reminder that human trafficking occurs not just in major metropolitan areas or international corridors, but in America’s heartland, hidden behind the facade of legitimate businesses.
This story is based on official court documents and statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nebraska, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
