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A New Jersey couple allegedly pressured church members into slave labor.
They claimed attendees would face punishment for noncompliance.
The couple reportedly remoted victims and monitored their actions.
A self-proclaimed pastor from New Jersey and his spouse pressured church members into slave labour and intercourse for practically a decade, telling them God would punish them in the event that they did not submit, federal prosecutors mentioned.
Treva Edwards, 60, and his 63-year-old spouse, Christine, lured susceptible locals to the Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost church of their Orange residence constructing, forcing them to carry out gruelling work locally whereas depriving them of meals and sleep, the US Legal professional’s Workplace for New Jersey mentioned.
In accordance with federal prosecutors, Treva Edwards can be accused of subjecting one lady to “repeated bodily and sexual assaults,” getting her pregnant and demanding she get an abortion, all of the whereas telling her and different victims it was all God’s will, the New York Submit reported.
“The defendants satisfied the victims that they’d lose favour with God if they didn’t carry out labour,” prosecutors mentioned in an announcement. “The defendants remoted the victims, monitored their communications and whereabouts, and satisfied them that non-members had been evil or possessed by the satan.
The Edwards allegedly contracted out the companies of their recruited slave labour power however pocketed all of the proceeds, feeding them solely as soon as a day and maintaining them on a strict routine of labor and prayer.
The couple allegedly ran the brutal scheme from 2011 till 2020, the feds mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned they “recognized and recruited victims who had been dealing with struggles of their private lives, together with monetary and familial struggles,” whereas Treva Edwards informed them “that he was a prophet who might talk instantly with Gold.”
Disobeying him “would end in religious retribution from God, in addition to bodily, emotional and monetary hurt,” in accordance with the US Legal professional’s workplace.
The 2 alleged scammers had been charged in a federal indictment final week, accusing each of conspiracy to commit pressured labour, with Treva Edwards additionally charged with pressured labour and intercourse trafficking by power, fraud or coercion, federal prosecutors mentioned.
They mentioned each had been detained after being charged on Wednesday.
It’s not instantly clear if they’ve retained a lawyer or are nonetheless being held in federal custody.
If convicted, the 2 face a most jail sentence of 20 years to life on the labour conspiracy expenses, whereas Treva Edwards faces 15 years to life if discovered responsible of the intercourse cost, prosecutors mentioned.
“These expenses are an instance of my workplace’s tireless dedication to combating human trafficking in our neighborhood,” US Legal professional for New Jersey Alina Habba mentioned in an announcement. “We’re dedicated to working alongside our companions to make sure that those that goal essentially the most susceptible are delivered to justice.”