Flooring Manufacturer Raided for Alleged Labor Trafficking

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Law enforcement stormed a flooring manufacturer
in Cartersville,

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Georgia in connection with what the FBI
described as an active ongoing labor

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trafficking investigation.

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According to a news release, agents from the
FBI, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement or

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ICE, and other law enforcement partners entered
the well-made industry's building to execute

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federal search warrants, alleging the company
of using fraud and coercion to persuade Chinese

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nationals and other immigrants to work.

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The agents also carried out search warrants at
multiple residences in the area.

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The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that
ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said the

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operation targeted allegations of labor
trafficking and financial crimes related to

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Well Made's practices.
Williams noted that the facility's owner was

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arrested on state charges.
Fox 5 Atlanta identified the owner as Zu Chen

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and reported that Jia Yi Chen, who authorities
said is Chen's nephew,

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was also arrested.
Fox 5 cited an anonymous former company

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employee who described unsafe conditions,
overcrowded housing,

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and a rotating shift system that transported
workers between their homes and work.

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According to Well Made's website, the 328,000
square foot Cartersville facility produces over

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100,000 square feet of flooring annually.
FBI Atlanta stated that it brought in a victim

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specialist and 20 linguists to assist the
dozens of potential victims at the facility.

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The agency estimates that labor trafficking
accounts for 6% of its human trafficking cases.

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I'm Nolan Bte.
This is manufacturing now.