CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A man is facing charges after officials say he allegedly trafficked two young girls at a Chester County mushroom farm.
Authorities say 36-year-old Ramiro Caal Jolomna threatened to deport a 14-year-old from Mexico and a 17-year-old from Guatemala if they didn’t continue to work for him on the farm.
Officials say Jolomna would have the 14-year-old work 16 hours a day for weeks, forced her to sign her paychecks over to him and his wife, and ordered her to do chores around his house.
The 17-year-old was working in a similar situation, but was trying to earn money to send back to her family, including her sick father.
Instead of Jolomna being a sponsor to her, as he allegedly promised, investigators said he took most of the money she made.
They say Jolomna kept the girls out of school and essentially charged them “debts” they needed to pay back.
He now faces trafficking, involuntary servitude and related offenses.
Jolomna remains in Chester County prison, unable to post 10% of $1 million bail.