Two Georgia Men and a Chinese National Indicted for Forced Labor
(Atlanta, GA = Alex Walczak) A federal grand jury in Georgia has indicted two U.S. citizens and a Chinese national on charges of forced labor and related offenses, highlighting ongoing concerns about human trafficking and labor rights violations.
On August 12, 2026, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia announced the indictment of Zhu Chen, 60, and Jiayi Chen, 31, both U.S. citizens, alongside Jianjun Lu, 55, a Chinese national. All three reside in Cartersville, Georgia, and face serious charges including forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and alien harboring.
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly recruited Chinese nationals under false pretenses, facilitating their entry into the United States on B-1 and L-1 visas. Once in the U.S., the victims were forced to work at Wellmade Industries, a flooring manufacturer located in Cartersville. Upon arrival, the defendants confiscated the victims’ immigration documents and imposed grueling work schedules of 12-hour shifts, six days a week.
The indictment claims that the defendants paid the victims less than the promised wages and failed to provide overtime pay or health benefits. Additionally, they reportedly threatened the victims with deportation and significant debt, subjecting them to verbal, psychological, and physical abuse. The victims were housed in properties owned by Wellmade Industries, despite lacking legal status under their visas.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor and forced labor itself, while Zhu Chen faces an additional charge of alien harboring. If convicted, they could each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta. The case is currently under investigation by HSI Dalton, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek are overseeing the prosecution. It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case underscores the ongoing issues of forced labor and human rights violations in the United States, prompting a call for increased vigilance and action from relevant authorities to combat such crimes.
