Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) – A county superior court in California on Wednesday has sentenced three members of a Filipino-American family to prison after convicting them of human trafficking and labor-related crimes in San Francisco Bay Area.
San Mateo County Superior Court ordered Joshua Gamos, 46, to spend nine years and eight months in a state prison, while Noel Gamos, 44, and Carlina Gamos, 70, will spend five years, and five years and eight months, respectively.
Another family member, Gerlen Gamos, 42, previously pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2019 to two counts of grand theft and will be sentenced at a later date.
38 felony guilty verdicts
The sentencing stems from the 38 felony guilty verdicts of human trafficking that the Gamos family received last year.
State Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is also a Filipino-American, said the crimes were committed over the course of a decade while the Gamos family operated the Rainbow Bright daycare and residential care company in Daly City.
Bonta said employees were required to live and work in the facilities for hours far exceeding a normal work day, forced to sleep on floors and in garages, and locked outside when the family is not at home.
“This organized criminal enterprise targeted vulnerable people looking for work opportunities, and exploited and abused workers in a horrific trafficking scheme,” he said.
“Let me be clear,” he added. “This behavior will never be tolerated in California.”
The family targeted members of the Filipino community, many of whom were recent immigrants, using threats of arrest and deportation, false promises of immigration assistance, and passport confiscation, authorities said.
A San Mateo County Superior Court judge imposed prison sentences for three members of the Gamos Family, who were found guilty by jury of human trafficking and labor-related crimes in the Bay Area. https://t.co/EQAc2hroGm
— Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) February 9, 2023
