New Jersey Woman Sentenced for Holding Young Filipino Nanny in Involuntary Servitude

October 17, 2007 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced today that a West Windsor woman has been sentenced for forcing a young Filipino woman who came to the U.S. as a nanny to instead care for her ailing husband and do her housekeeping for two years.

Angelita Reyes, 68, of Blanket Flower Lane, West Windsor, was sentenced yesterday by Superior Court Judge Maryann K. Bielamowicz in Mercer County to serve three years probation and perform 50 hours of community service. Reyes also was ordered to pay restitution of $78,000 to the victim, Arlene Gado, 23, representing the difference between what Gado should have been paid under her employment contract and what she was actually paid. The sentence was pursuant to Reyes’ Aug. 23 guilty plea a charge of third-degree criminal restraint.

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In 2005, Gado signed an employment contract in the Philippines, witnessed by her parents, that provided that she would travel to the U.S. to work in the home of Anthony Mandap, a vice consul in the Consulate General of the Philippines in San Francisco. The contract provided that her duties would focus on the care of Mandap’s three children and she would receive $8 per hour for a 40-hour work week, with overtime paid at a rate of time-and-one-half.

An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice determined that after Gado arrived in California, she was told she was needed in the home of Mandap’s in-laws, Angelita and Norberto Reyes. Mandap’s wife, Maryann, and another daughter of the Reyeses flew with Gado to New Jersey. They allegedly took Gado’s passport and visa, claiming they would be given to Mandap for renewal of the visa.

For two years beginning May 1, 2005, Gado worked in Angelita Reyes’ home, providing continuous care to Reyes’ incapacitated husband, Norberto, including feeding and bathing him. Gado was required to clean the house and cook all meals. She also was called upon to provide massages, manicures and pedicures to relatives and family friends. Gado was told not to leave the house without family members because she lacked documentation and would be arrested.

Until July 2006, Gado was paid just $250 per month for her services. In July 2006, her pay was increased to $325 per month because she was required to take on the additional responsibility of caring for the Reyeses’ infant granddaughter.

Gado was able to communicate by cell phone with a female cousin in Michigan. The cousin contacted the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development in March 2007 because she was concerned about Gado’s low earnings. The Department of Labor referred the matter to the Division of Criminal Justice.

After a preliminary investigation by State Investigator Kerrie Murin, the Division of Criminal Justice arranged for Gado to be rescued from the Reyes household on May 2, 2007 and placed in a shelter by an authorized social support agency.

Supervising Deputy Attorney General Jennifer L. Gottschalk prosecuted the case for the Attorney General. Murin investigated with assistance from State Investigator Abe Aquino.

Attorney General Milgram noted that anyone with information about suspected human trafficking, forced labor or related crimes can call the Division of Criminal Justice at 1-866-TIPS-4CJ. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division of Criminal Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing. All information received through the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Tipline or Web site will remain confidential.

Source: New Jersey Attorney General