WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.239 –> 00:03.069
Law enforcement stormed a flooring manufacturer
in Cartersville,
00:03.079 –> 00:07.280
Georgia in connection with what the FBI
described as an active ongoing labor
00:07.280 –> 00:08.590
trafficking investigation.
00:08.890 –> 00:13.159
According to a news release, agents from the
FBI, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement or
00:13.159 –> 00:17.559
ICE, and other law enforcement partners entered
the well-made industry’s building to execute
00:17.559 –> 00:22.200
federal search warrants, alleging the company
of using fraud and coercion to persuade Chinese
00:22.200 –> 00:23.870
nationals and other immigrants to work.
00:24.135 –> 00:27.676
The agents also carried out search warrants at
multiple residences in the area.
00:27.875 –> 00:32.236
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that
ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said the
00:32.236 –> 00:36.195
operation targeted allegations of labor
trafficking and financial crimes related to
00:36.195 –> 00:39.276
Well Made’s practices.
Williams noted that the facility’s owner was
00:39.276 –> 00:43.585
arrested on state charges.
Fox 5 Atlanta identified the owner as Zu Chen
00:43.585 –> 00:46.916
and reported that Jia Yi Chen, who authorities
said is Chen’s nephew,
00:47.066 –> 00:50.551
was also arrested.
Fox 5 cited an anonymous former company
00:50.551 –> 00:54.312
employee who described unsafe conditions,
overcrowded housing,
00:54.422 –> 00:58.391
and a rotating shift system that transported
workers between their homes and work.
00:58.512 –> 01:03.271
According to Well Made’s website, the 328,000
square foot Cartersville facility produces over
01:03.271 –> 01:07.832
100,000 square feet of flooring annually.
FBI Atlanta stated that it brought in a victim
01:07.832 –> 01:11.872
specialist and 20 linguists to assist the
dozens of potential victims at the facility.
01:12.209 –> 01:16.529
The agency estimates that labor trafficking
accounts for 6% of its human trafficking cases.
01:16.730 –> 01:18.650
I’m Nolan Bte.
This is manufacturing now.