Restitution paid to labor trafficking victim

A woman who was tormented for more than two years is getting thousands of dollars in restitution in what federal authorities call an unprecedented move. The victim, known as the “Katy Nanny,” was abused and forced to work without pay, classifying her as a case of labor trafficking.

The woman was brought to Texas from Nigeria and forced into domestic servitude by a couple in the Cinco Ranch subdivision of Katy. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office says payments to victims usually begin after a sentencing and are disbursed over a period of time but attorneys were able to seize the couple's assets and a check for more than $120,000 has already been issued to the victim.

Federal authorities in Houston say the restitution for the victim of labor trafficking may be the first of its kind. Katy residents Sandra and Chudy Nsobundu forced the Nigerian woman to work without pay as the nanny for their five children from September of 2013 until October of 2015. The victim was abused and forced to sleep on the floor.

"This is modern-day slavery and this is exactly what it looks like and this was happening at a cul de  sac in Cinco Ranch and if it happened there, it can happen anywhere," says Ryan K. Patrick, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

The victim was able to escape from the forced labor with help from neighbors who noticed something wasn’t right when they would see her walk around the neighborhood. Authorities hope this story will encourage people to report any suspicions they may have about possible human trafficking of any kind in their communities.