By Staff reports
GateHouse News Service
Posted Sep 19, 2012 @ 05:11 PM

Harvard —

A Harvard couple has been charged in federal court with harboring an illegal alien.

The indictment against Martha Smalanskas, 47, and Richard Smalanskas, 48, alleges that while in Bolivia they hired a 16-year-old nanny to cook, clean and take care of their children.

After three years in Boliva, they brought the nanny to the United States under false documentation, making it appear as if the nanny was related to them. Once in the U.S., it is alleged that the couple took her travel documents and required her to work long hours. She was promised, but not paid, a wage of up to $150 per month. The charges also allege that the couple were aware that the visa for the nanny expired after approximately one month; they told the nanny not to discuss this with anyone and told her not to try to return home or get permanent resident status, because they knew that once her visa expired in January of 1998, she was here illegally.

If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Colonel Timothy Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Kanwit and Suzanne Sullivan of Ortiz’s Civil Rights
Enforcement Team.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Harvard couple charged with harboring an illegal alien - Harvard, MA - The Harvard Post