Thread: Mexico Extradites Two Men Accused of Exploiting Deaf Mexican

May 31, 2005

Mexico Extradites Two Men Accused of Exploiting Deaf Mexicans in New York
By John Rice
Associated Press Writer


MEXICO CITY (AP) - Two men accused of exploiting deaf Mexican immigrants - luring them to New York and then forcing them to sell trinkets on subways - have been extradited to the United States, the attorney general's office said Tuesday.

Jose Paoletti Moreda and his son Renato Paoletti Lemus - who are both deaf themselves - are accused of controlling and abusing dozens of other deaf Mexicans who worked under their control at two New York City apartments.

Jose Paoletti is believed to be about 66 now and his son 41. The two were arrested more than seven years ago.

U.S. officials say the Paolettis were among the ringleaders in an operation that lured scores of deaf Mexicans into the United States with promises of a better life.

Authorities said threats of violence kept the immigrants trapped in servitude, often working long hours seven days a week, while the Paolettis and others pocketed the profits.

The Mexican attorney general's office said the smuggled workers were sent to sell merchandise at airports, on streets and in subway stations in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C., as well as New York.

It said the Paolettis kept the workers' passports.

Eighteen other Mexicans were arrested in the case and sentenced in New York for crimes including criminal conspiracy, immigrant smuggling and enslavement.

Fifty-seven of their victims were freed in 1997 when police raided houses in the New York borough of Queens. Most were taken to city shelters for job training, tutored lessons and health care, while others returned to Mexico.

AP-ES-05-31-05 2123EDT

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB6DDKVE9E.html

But I thought these folks were just innocent migrants looking for a better way of life....

If we could only get Mexico to extradite murderers they are harboring in their country. For some crazy reason they like to protect them like an endangered species in Mexico.