ESSEX COUNTY — Lassissi Afolabi arrived at federal court today expecting to face as much as 12 years in prison for his role in a human trafficking operation that took advantage of young girls and women from West Africa — smuggled into the country to work long hours for no pay, braiding hair.
Instead, he was sentenced to more than twice that, and ordered to repay his victims $3.9 million.
"The conduct for which this defendant is being sentenced is horrific," said U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark.
In the high-profile case prosecutors have equated to slavery, Afolabi, an immigrant from Togo, had been charged with manipulating a visa program to bring women from villages in Ghana and Togo to the United States. Once here, they were forced to surrender their passports and made to work in hair salons in Newark and East Orange. Forbidden to learn English, they were told not to make friends and were not allowed to earn any money or keep tips — on pain of beatings and other harsh punishment. Some were sexually abused.
More coverage:
• West African merchant to stand trial in N.J. for human trafficking
• East Orange man admits helping run human trafficking ring for hair salon
• In smuggling case, 'victims' defend the accused
• Human trafficking alleged in hair salons in Newark, E. Orange
The ring, which came to light in 2007, was headed by Afolabi’s ex-wife, Akouavi Kpade Afolabi. She was convicted in October after a trial in which several victims told jurors Afolabi confiscated their passports, beat them and used a voodoo ritual to frighten them into believing they would go insane if they escaped. Her lawyer argued prosecutors mistook a West African-style apprenticeship program as slavery.
Entering into a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney’s office last August, Afolabi pleaded guilty to forced labor, aggravated sexual abuse and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. He admitted he tried to have sex with one of the girls during a trip to North Carolina.
Under terms of his plea agreement, he faced up to 12 years and six months in jail. But a subsequent review of the sentencing guidelines doubled the minimum term. Linares was not bound by the plea deal and had wide discretion when imposing sentence. Still, he asked Afolabi if he wanted to retract his guilty plea.
"No," Afolabi said through a translator.
His attorney, John McGovern of Newark, said his client was deeply remorseful for his conduct.
Afolabi, in a dark green prison jumpsuit, stood slowly to address the court.
"I would like the judge to know the actions I committed were done out of ignorance," the defendant said through the interpreter. "I offer my sincere apology."
Linares, though, said despite the terms of the plea deal, the sentencing guidelines were clear. Many of the victims of the scheme came to America based on the promise of a better life and opportunities, he said.
"Instead, they were subject to harsh and cruel conditions, forced to work in hair salons for 14 hours a day. The conditions these young girls were forced to endure included physical and psychological abuse, as well as sexual abuse," the judge said. "The offenses committed were serious and heinous."
Afolabi bowed his head as the judge imposed a sentence of more than 24 years, as well as a restitution figure that doubled what the young women should have been paid in wages and benefits.
Another of those tied to the trafficking scheme, Dereck Hounakey, was sentenced to more than four years in prison in June.
Akouavi Kpade Afolabi and Geoffry Kouevi, who was convicted in a separate jury trial, are both awaiting sentencing.