9 Indicted in Alleged Operation of Thai Sweatshop

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles Thursday indicted nine alleged operators of an El Monte apparel sweatshop, charging that the forced-labor ring recruited workers in Thailand, smuggled them into the United States, confined them under threat, censored their mail and monitored their telephone calls.

All nine defendants are charged with conspiracy and concealing and harboring illegal immigrants. The accused could face up to five years in prison and $250,000 fines on each of those charges.

Among those charged is a fugitive, Sukit Manasurangkul, 40, who, the indictment states, helped recruit the workers in Thailand. An arrest warrant was issued for the alleged recruiter, known to some workers as “Sunshine,” who is believed to be in Thailand.

Seven suspects are said to be related, officials said, including four who may be sons of the woman believed to be the ringleader--Suni Manasurangkul, 65, whom workers referred to as “Auntie.” It was she, the indictment stated, who ran the El Monte operation in matriarchal style, giving the laborers working and sleeping assignments and warning them that they were not free to leave, an admonition backed by threats of violence.

Federal authorities are still seeking a 10th suspect, who is also believed to be a son of Manasurangkul. The others in custody include two alleged guards at the El Monte site and two women believed to be daughters-in-law of Manasurangkul.

The first eight alleged ring operators were arrested Aug. 2, when officials raided the El Monte garment factory and liberated 72 Thai nationals who authorities say were being held in near-enslavement. The investigation is continuing, and federal violations including involuntary servitude and peonage could be added, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael Gennaco.

The five-count indictment adds a few new details to what is known about the incident, the most dramatic case of alleged slavery uncovered in the United States in recent years.

Workers were recruited in Thailand, provided with false documents enabling them to enter the United States as tourists, met at Los Angeles International Airport and transported directly to El Monte, officials charged.

Once the workers arrived at the factory, authorities charged, the sweatshop operators seized their passports and took back the “show money” that had been provided to them as a cover should U.S. immigration officials question them about their planned tourist itineraries.

Not only were the workers prevented from leaving the El Monte facility, the indictment charges, but their overseers restricted their communication and movement within the “labor camp”--actually a converted apartment complex in the working-class suburb southeast of Los Angeles.

All of the suspects are believed to be illegal immigrants, authorities said, as are the 72 Thai workers.

The workers have said that they believed they were working off travel debts of about $5,000.

U.S. and California officials have filed lawsuits seeking some $5 million in back wages due the former workers, who were freed from immigration custody last week and are expected to serve as key witnesses in the criminal case against the sweatshop operators.

Others charged in Thursday’s indictment are: Tavee Uvawas, 35; Sunton Rawungchaisong, 30; Rampa Suthaprasit, 32; Suporn Verayutwilai, 29; Seree Granjapiree, 28; Hong Wangdee, and Thanes Panthong, 30.

California authorities have imposed fines on a number of Los Angeles-area manufacturers that may have done business with sweatshop-produced goods. The firms--fined at the rate of $100 per employee at the time of inspection--were cited for operating without proper licenses, said state Labor Commissioner Victoria Bradshaw. They are: AM Casuals Inc., $1,600; Balmara Inc., $300; Beniko Inc., also known as Point Zero, $2,200; F 40 California Inc., $5,500; Ms. Tops of California, $1,500; New Boys Inc., $2,700; Tomato Inc., $4,700; U.S. Boys Inc., $23,300, and Jonquil Inc., $300.