Five men from Federal Way and Auburn were charged Oct. 15 with conspiracy to engage in forced labor of a 16-year-old Afghan immigrant.
Mohammad Atahee, 37, Mohammad Yousuf, 84, and Nasima Yousuf, 70, arranged for the girl to immigrate to the United States in 2006 through the use of false claims that she was Nasima Yousuf’s daughter, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.
Upon the girl’s arrival, the men forced her to live with Atahee, who attempted to marry the juvenile, and in January of this year is alleged to have sexually assaulted and beaten her, according to the press release. During her time in the United States, the girl allegedly was forced to perform household chores for Nahid Yousufi, 29, and Maruf Yousufi, 42, both of Auburn, according to the release.
The assault and abuse were reported to police and the juvenile was removed from Atahee’s care following police notification of the allegations, according to the press release. Trial for the five defendants is set for Dec. 23. They face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Both Yousuf men also face an additional up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for Visa fraud.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Seattle Police Department investigated the case.