Five men charged in 24-count federal indictment in Omaha trafficking case
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Five hotel owners were charged in a 24-count federal indictment Monday in the elaborate human trafficking investigation in Omaha.
Ketankumar Chaudhari, 36, of Elkhorn, is charged with three counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion.
He is also charged with four counts of maintaining a drug premises and three counts conspiracy to commit labor trafficking.
Chaudhari also faces eight counts of conspiracy to harbor immigrants in the country illegally and four counts of transporting said immigrants.
Finally, he faces one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of fraud and misuse of visas.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
SEE ALSO: Feds raid four hotels and motels in Omaha area, arrest five in trafficking investigation
Rashmi Samani, 42, of Elkhorn, faces all 24 counts that Chaudhari faces. He also faces up to life in prison.
Amit P. Chaudhari, 32, of Omaha, is charged with three counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion.
He is also charged with four counts of maintaining a drug premises and three counts conspiracy to commit labor trafficking.
That defendant also faces eight counts of conspiracy to harbor immigrants in the country illegally and four counts of transporting said immigrants.
He faces up to life in prison.
Amit B. Chaudhari, 33, of Omaha, is charged with three counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion.
He is also charged with four counts of maintaining a drug premises and three counts of conspiracy to commit labor trafficking.
Amit B. Chaudhari also faces one count of conspiracy to harbor immigrants in the country illegally.
He faces up to life in prison.
Maheshkumar Chaudhari, 38, of Norfolk, faces two counts of conspiracy to commit labor trafficking and one count of conspiracy to harbor immigrants in the country illegally.
If convicted, he faces 50 years in prison.
On Aug. 12, federal authorities searched 14 businesses and two homes in the Omaha area, arresting five people in a human trafficking investigation.
Four hotels and motels were targeted in the raid: The AmericInn near Interstate 80 and 13th Street, The Inn (formerly Super 8) near I-80 and 144th Street, The New Victorian Inn & Suites off Highway 275 and the Rodeway Inn off Fort Crook Road in Bellevue.
Law enforcement said they rescued 10 minors and 17 adults from a labor trafficking ring.
The hotels made children as young as 12 years old work long hours for little to no pay, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
