Californian child, high-level care operators accused of human trafficking

DALY CITY, California –

A family of four Bay Area members faces 59 counts of human trafficking, rape and workplace abuse. They are accused of leading a network of human traffickers in a daycare center in northern California and two elderly care centers that they owned and operated in the peninsula.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the arrests and charges Friday morning against the owners of Rainbow Bright.

The defendants – Joshua, Noel, Gerlen and Carlina Gamo – are still imprisoned on bail of $ 9 million.

According to Becerra, the crimes were committed at Westmore High School in Daly City and five other neighborhoods in Pacifica and South San Francisco.

During the execution of arrest warrants, Becerra said the authorities had also recovered 14 illegal assault weapons, including three "ghost guns" without serial numbers. Officials told ABC TV channel KGO-TV that a pistol had been found unsecured and wrapped in a blanket of daycare, within reach of children.

"Rainbow Bright cheats," said Becerra. "Not only the workers of their wages, not only the workers of their dignity, but you and I as taxpayers."

It totals $ 8.5 million, said Becerra, adding that the defendants were targeting the Filipino community, including recent immigrants.

"The workers were forced to live in the premises," he said. "They were locked up in the rain when the owners were not home.An accused is charged with three counts of rape against an employee."

It also indicates that the defendants prevented the employees from leaving by threatening to hand them over to the immigration officers, taking their passports and, in extreme cases, raping them.

"No worker in the United States should live in fear or be subjected to violence, abuse or exploitation on the part of his employer," said Becerra. "The accusations against Gamos family members are despicable, we must not turn a blind eye to abusive work practices, report it, and we will investigate and prosecute."

KGO-TV spoke with a former worker on Friday. John Paul Velez corresponds to the profile of the employees. He worked for the accused 10 years ago in a senior center.

"I was surprised," he said. "Especially with human trafficking, and 24 hours, how can you work 24 hours?"

Becerra said his office has identified hundreds of victims and is waiting for more.

"It is the workers who have brought this case to light," he said. "And the workers who were the biggest victims of Rainbow Bright and its operations."

Authorities said the arrests were part of a one – year investigation conducted by several agencies.