4 Indian Americans Charged With Running Human Labor Trafficking Operation in Texas
- The discovery of 15 adult females living in poor conditions and forced to work for shell companies, led police to multiple locations where over 100 individuals, including other victims, were found.
Four Indian-Americans have been charged with running a human labor trafficking operation out of a home in Princeton, Texas. Although the arrests were made in March, the Princeton Police Department first released the details of the investigation yesterday (July 8).
Chandan Dasireddy, 24, Dwaraka Gunda, 31, Santhosh Katkoori, 31, and Anil Male, 37, were arrested on March 13, and charged with trafficking of persons, a second-degree felony, the police press release said.
The arrests were made after police were dispatched to the home of Katkoori regarding a welfare concern and suspicious circumstances. Police found 15 adult females at the location living in poor conditions and forced to work for shell companies owned by him and his wife, Dwaraka Gunda. The women were found forced to sleep on the floor with no furniture, surrounded by computer electronics and blankets.
The welfare call was made by a pest control company inspector who was called to the home for possible bed bugs. Once inside, the inspector noticed that “each room… had 3-5 young females sleeping on the floors.” There were also “large amounts of suitcases.”
That investigation led to the discovery of multiple involved locations and over 100 individuals, including other victims. It was later determined that multiple locations within Princeton, Melissa, and McKinney were involved in the forced laboring of the victims, including adult males.
Sgt. Carolyn Crawford of the Princeton Police reported over 100 more individuals involved, more than half being victims. However, she did not disclose the specific nature of the labor operation.
More arrests are expected, police said, adding that further charges of multiple parties are still pending as this investigation continues.