Secaucus Woman Charged With Enslaving Sri Lankan Woman

SECAUCUS, NJ — A Secaucus woman was arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 12 on charges that she held a Sri Lankan national against her will and forced the woman to work without pay for years as a domestic servant, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity, who also goes by Alia Al Qaterneh, 43, of Secaucus, was indicted last Tuesday on charges of forced labor, alien harboring and marriage fraud. She pleaded not guilty on Wednesday and remains free on $150,000 unsecured bond.

Federal prosecutors say Hunaity brought the victim to the United States on a temporary visa in 2009 so the woman could perform domestic services. Hunaity allegedly caused the victim to overstay her visa, and the victim remained in the United States illegally, living exclusively with Hunaity for more than nine years. Hunaity allegedly forced the victim to work without pay, and limited the victim’s interactions with the outside world, federal prosecutors say.

In a twist, Hunaity is accused of forcing the victim to marry her, taking advantage of U.S. same-sex marriage laws, solely for the purpose of obtaining legal residence for the victim so the woman could continue to work for her without pay, the U.S. Attorney's office says.

Hunaity was arrested on Sept. 19 of this year.

If found guilty, she is facing up to 20 years in a federal prison; the forced labor charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the alien harboring and marriage fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. She is also facing fines of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security, operating out of Newark, helped with the investigation.

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