SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Three members of a Bay Area family been convicted of more than 100 counts of human trafficking and labor exploitation for their role in a scheme that targeted Filipino residents, according to state prosecutors.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Tuesday that Joshua, Noel and Carlina Gamos were convicted of three counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking and grand theft of labor, four counts of human trafficking, 49 counts of grand thef of labor, 27 counts of failure to file unemployment tax returns, 27 counts of failure to collect or pay unemployment insurance taxes and one count of workers' compensation fraud.
The Gamos family operated four adult and child care facilities in San Mateo County through their company, Rainbow Bright. Between 2008 and ‘18, Bonta said the family's "organized criminal enterprise targeted vulnerable people looking for work opportunities."
Officials said that Rainbow Bright employees – whom the Gamoses allegedly targeted by placing help wanted advertisements in a Filipino newspaper in San Mateo County – were often required to work "hours far exceeding" the five-day, 40-hour schedule the company advertised.
Many lived in the facilities where they worked, and the Gamoses regularly withheld workers' passports and threatened to call immigration officials if workers complained about their hours or pay timing. Prosecutors said a lot of the Gamoses’ victims recently immigrated to the U.S.
The Gamoses were arrested and charged in 2018, when Xavier Beccera was still California Attorney General. Another arrested family member, Gerlen Gamos, pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft in 2019, according to Bonta’s announcement on Tuesday.
Bonta said 46-year-old Joshua Gamos, 44-year-old Noel Gamos and 70-year-old Carlina Gamos will be sentenced on Aug. 19 at 8:30 a.m. in San Mateo County Superior Court.
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