Indian-American Motel Manager Sentenced For Human Trafficking, Forced Labour In Georgia

An Indian motel manager in Georgia has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for trafficking a woman for peonage and slavery, and ordered to pay over USD40,000 in restitution to seven people, officials said.

According to court documents, Shreesh Tiwari, 71, an Indian national and legal US permanent resident, began managing the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia, in 2020.

Tiwari hired the woman to work as a maid at the motel and provided her with a room. He was aware that the victim had previously experienced homelessness, struggled with a heroin addiction and lost custody of her young child, the Department of Justice said in a statement.