VA Couple Convicted Of Forcing Cousin To Work At Gas Station

RICHMOND, VA — A jury convicted a Richmond-area couple of multiple charges this week after authorities said they forced a family member to work at their gas station, stole his immigration documents and subjected him to verbal and physical abuse.

Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 43, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit forced labor and other charges after the pair forced the victim, Singh’s cousin, to work at Singh’s North Chesterfield convenience store for little pay.

According to court documents, the victim — who was a minor at the time — came to the United States in 2018 after the couple promised to help him enroll in school. After arriving, Singh and Kaur took the boy's immigration documents and immediately put him to work, prosecutors said.

According to court documents, the victim was forced to sleep in an office inside the store for days at a time. He was denied access to food, and the couple also refused his requests to return to India and forced him to overstay his visa.

Prosecutors said Singh also slapped and kicked the victim when he requested his immigration documents and tried to leave. On several occasions, Singh also threatened the victim with a gun when he tried to take a day off and leave the store.

Prosecutors said the abuse and forced labor started in March 2018 and continued through May 2021.

"These defendants engaged in an egregious bait-and-switch, luring the victim with false promises of an education in the United States and instead subjecting him to grueling hours, degrading living conditions and a litany of mental and physical abuse," U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber said in a statement.

Aber continued, "Forced labor and human trafficking are abhorrent crimes that have no place in our society, and I am grateful to our team of prosecutors, agents and support staff for ensuring that justice was done in this case.”

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 8. Singh and Kaur face a maximum of 20 years in prison.