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New York woman found guilty of keeping Indian maid in US illegally New York woman found guilty of keeping Indian maid in US illegally
(about 1 month later)
A woman who practically kept her Indian housemaid a prisoner in an upstate New York mansion was found guilty on Friday of knowingly keeping her in the US illegally.A woman who practically kept her Indian housemaid a prisoner in an upstate New York mansion was found guilty on Friday of knowingly keeping her in the US illegally.
Annie George, the widow of a hotelier who died in a plane crash, said she did not know that Valsamma Mathai was in the United States illegally. She also denied mistreating Mathai during the five and a half years she worked in her 20,000-square-foot home in suburban Rexford, near Albany.Annie George, the widow of a hotelier who died in a plane crash, said she did not know that Valsamma Mathai was in the United States illegally. She also denied mistreating Mathai during the five and a half years she worked in her 20,000-square-foot home in suburban Rexford, near Albany.
Mathai testified that she slept in a closet, worked long days without vacation, days off or sick time, and was not allowed to leave the property, a palatial stone mansion on a cliff overlooking the Mohawk river.Mathai testified that she slept in a closet, worked long days without vacation, days off or sick time, and was not allowed to leave the property, a palatial stone mansion on a cliff overlooking the Mohawk river.
Federal prosecutors said George owes Mathai $317,000, based on the minimum wage and overtime for the hours she worked. Mathai said she was paid only $26,000, much of which she sent to her family in India.Federal prosecutors said George owes Mathai $317,000, based on the minimum wage and overtime for the hours she worked. Mathai said she was paid only $26,000, much of which she sent to her family in India.
George was convicted of harboring a migrant without papers. She faces a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced, on 9 July. She remains free on bail.George was convicted of harboring a migrant without papers. She faces a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced, on 9 July. She remains free on bail.
A federal jury handed down its decision Friday after deliberating since Thursday afternoon.A federal jury handed down its decision Friday after deliberating since Thursday afternoon.
The case surfaced when one of Mathai's sons in India, Shiju Mathai, called the National Human Trafficking Resources Center in 2011.The case surfaced when one of Mathai's sons in India, Shiju Mathai, called the National Human Trafficking Resources Center in 2011.
On Thursday, George said a tape recording of a phone call between a woman and Shiju Mathai, which prosecutors played Wednesday, wasn't her voice. She didn't say who she thought the voice belonged to.On Thursday, George said a tape recording of a phone call between a woman and Shiju Mathai, which prosecutors played Wednesday, wasn't her voice. She didn't say who she thought the voice belonged to.
On the call, the woman warns Shiju Mathai there could be dire consequences, even jail time, for his mother if she were to tell authorities about working in the United States.On the call, the woman warns Shiju Mathai there could be dire consequences, even jail time, for his mother if she were to tell authorities about working in the United States.
George testified that she was left in desperate financial straits when her husband died in 2009. She said she knew nothing of his business dealings, including the arrangement to have Valsamma Mathai live with them, because he required her to stick to her duties as his wife and mother of their six children and severely punished her if she tried to make any decisions in the home.George testified that she was left in desperate financial straits when her husband died in 2009. She said she knew nothing of his business dealings, including the arrangement to have Valsamma Mathai live with them, because he required her to stick to her duties as his wife and mother of their six children and severely punished her if she tried to make any decisions in the home.
Her late husband, Mathai George, built a hotel and real estate development business in the United States after arriving from India. He was killed along with his 11-year-old son and another man when their private plane crashed after takeoff.Her late husband, Mathai George, built a hotel and real estate development business in the United States after arriving from India. He was killed along with his 11-year-old son and another man when their private plane crashed after takeoff.
Defense lawyer Mark Sacco, in his closing arguments, said Annie George deferred to her husband on all decisions.Defense lawyer Mark Sacco, in his closing arguments, said Annie George deferred to her husband on all decisions.
"The government is prosecuting Annie George because Mathai George isn't here," Sacco said."The government is prosecuting Annie George because Mathai George isn't here," Sacco said.
He suggested Shiju Mathai launched the investigation because he was unhappy that his mother was sending less money home after Mathai George died.He suggested Shiju Mathai launched the investigation because he was unhappy that his mother was sending less money home after Mathai George died.
But assistant US attorney Rick Belliss said Annie George was an intelligent woman with a graduate degree in pharmacy who, even if she did not directly know Valsamma Mathai's immigration status, was smart enough to figure it out. Belliss said Annie George even took Valsamma Mathai to an immigration lawyer once, a charge George denied.But assistant US attorney Rick Belliss said Annie George was an intelligent woman with a graduate degree in pharmacy who, even if she did not directly know Valsamma Mathai's immigration status, was smart enough to figure it out. Belliss said Annie George even took Valsamma Mathai to an immigration lawyer once, a charge George denied.
Prosecutors had no immediate comment after the verdict against George.Prosecutors had no immediate comment after the verdict against George.
Valsamma Mathai, who was not in court Friday, came to the United States legally on a visa and stayed with another family after her husband died of cancer, leaving her the sole provider for her two sons and ailing mother. When she left that family her status was illegal because it violated the terms of the visa, Belliss said.Valsamma Mathai, who was not in court Friday, came to the United States legally on a visa and stayed with another family after her husband died of cancer, leaving her the sole provider for her two sons and ailing mother. When she left that family her status was illegal because it violated the terms of the visa, Belliss said.
A business associate testified Wednesday that Mathai George left six hotels, all in foreclosure or bankrupt and in poor condition. Several friends of Annie George said when they visited it appeared Valsamma Mathai was a member of the family, rather than a servant, and George's children called her grandmother.A business associate testified Wednesday that Mathai George left six hotels, all in foreclosure or bankrupt and in poor condition. Several friends of Annie George said when they visited it appeared Valsamma Mathai was a member of the family, rather than a servant, and George's children called her grandmother.
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