By F. Scott Faulkner
Ventura County, CA –– Federal agents arrested a Simi Valley couple on charges of forced labor and human
trafficking involving asylum-seeking immigrants from Latin America.
On February 26, federal authorities took Simi Valley residents Carolina Rojas, 50,
and Jairo John Gastelo, 45, into custody. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit forced
labor and multiple counts of forced labor.
Rojas faces additional charges, including trafficking with respect to forced labor, unlawful distribution of immigration documents, encouraging illegal
entry and witness tampering. Between November 2021 and March 2024, Rojas and Gastelo allegedly recruited foreign
nationals under false pretenses and arranged their transport to the U.S.
Once at the couple’s home in Simi Valley, victims were allegedly forced to provide childcare for a special needs child and
perform domestic labor in exchange for rent. Some were sent to work at a McDonald’s in Simi Valley, where Rojas and Gastelo allegedly collected a portion of their earnings as repayment for
smuggling fees.
According to Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Eddy Wang, “Today’s indictment
shows the great lengths that the defendants went through to enrich themselves off smuggled
aliens.”
The U.S. District Court in Los Angeles ordered both defendants detained. Their trial is
scheduled for April 8. If convicted, Rojas and Gastelo face significant prison sentences with a maximum of 20 years for
each charge of forced labor.
