OMAHA, Neb. (KSNW) — The US Attorney’s Office for Nebraska says five people have been taken into custody for a human trafficking ring that operated in western and central Nebraska.
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that the suspects are accused of participating in a conspiracy to engage in labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and harboring of aliens at several hotels in the Omaha metro area. Federal, state, and local law enforcement executed search and arrest warrants early Tuesday morning at four Omaha hotels.
They took four suspects into custody:
Kentakumar Chaudhari, a/k/a Ken Chaudhari, age 36, of Elkhorn, NE;
Rashmi Ajit Samani, a/k/a Falguni Samani, age 42, of Elkhorn, NE;
Amit Prahladbhai Chaudhari, a/k/a Amit, age 32, of Omaha;
Amit Babubhai Chaudhari, a/k/a Matt, age 33, of Omaha; and
Maheshkumar Chaudhari, a/k/a Mahesh, age 38, of Norfolk, NE.
Heat burst blamed for spreading Kansas wildfire
Search warrants were also executed at “Brow and Lash” salons in various locations around Omaha. Ten children who the US Attorney’s Office says were being forced to work at the hotels for long hours with little to no pay were rescued during the operation.
Seventeen adults were also rescued. The victims were alleged to be required to pay the defendants for their lodging at the hotels while being exploited for labor.
The indictment states the victims were being forced to sleep in unclean, unsafe, and unhealthy conditions at the hotels, sleeping on the floors of rooms that were infested with cockroaches. One or more defendants are also accused of engaging in sex trafficking.
The US Attorney for Nebraska says that the defendants encouraged sex traffickers to utilize their property and shielded them from law enforcement detection. The office alleges that not only were the sex trafficking victims subjected to victimization from “customers,” but from hotel management and employees as well.
The defendants are also accused of shielding drug traffickers from law enforcement and allowing for the sale of narcotics at the hotels. Several overdose deaths have been reported at at least one location.
One of the defendants is accused of trying to fraudulently obtain U Visas, which are set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse. The complaint also alleges that one of the defendants had a conversation about the cost of bringing someone from India to America and negotiating various prices. The complaint also alleges that a co-conspirator transported aliens between Nebraska and Washington to obtain a Washington driver’s license.
Gov. Kelly names transition director, team for new early childhood office
The defendants are also accused of money laundering. Law enforcement seized over $565,000 in cash during their investigation, along with illegal drugs.
“There is no evil greater than the evil that seeks to trap, oppress, and exploit human beings for profit or pleasure,” says US Attorney Lesley Woods. “Where that evil exists, Nebraska law enforcement working together at the federal, state, and local levels, as occurred in this case, will seek it, find it, root it out, and ensure every rescued victim has an opportunity to obtain justice and freedom from their captors.”
Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel, leader of the Omaha FBI Field Office, stated, “Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This investigation revealed victims right here in the heart of the heartland forced into sexual activity, living and working in dangerous and filthy conditions, and extorted to work in grueling jobs with little to no pay. We will always stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners to aggressively identify and apprehend perpetrators of human trafficking, hold them accountable, and obtain justice for victims. Our approach to these horrific cases is always centered on the victims. We encourage anyone who may be a victim or have information about human trafficking to call us. We will continue to surge resources to arrest violent offenders in our community as part of the FBI’s Summer Heat Initiative.”
“There is nothing more reprehensible than exploiting human beings, particularly children, for sex, abusive labor conditions, or deliberately violating U.S. immigration laws to profit from their suffering,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito of ICE HSI Kansas City, which covers Nebraska. “These criminals hide in the shadows, prey on the vulnerable and show no regard for the laws for the laws or values of our nation. Their crimes are calculated to be difficult to uncover, but HSI and our federal partners have no intention of stopping until these predators are brought to justice and every victim is freed from their grip.”
US Attorney Woods praised the agencies involved in the investigation and Tuesday’s operations which included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, the Omaha Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Branch, the United States Marshals Service, and the Nebraska State Attorney General’s Office.
Due to the scope of the investigation and the number of victims already contacted, the FBI has requested that anyone having additional information about the criminal conspiracy to contact the Omaha Field Office at 402-493-8688 or tips.fbi.gov.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Comments