U.S. v. Oke

Defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to harbor and shield unauthorized aliens, harboring and shielding unauthorized aliens, and forced labor after they brought two young girls into the country and forced them to work in their homes without pay. On appeal, defendants challenged the sufficiency of the evidence at trial and the reasonableness of their sentences. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, explaining that the evidence amply supported the convictions where the jury found the girls’ testimony credible and that the within or below-guidelines sentences did not reflect an abuse of discretion by the district court. (LEE and EASTERBROOK, concurring)