On September 22, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and the Pennsylvania State Police announced charges against 36-year-old Ramiro Caal Jolomna. The charges included false imprisonment, several counts of trafficking in individuals, several counts of involuntary servitude, concealing the death of a child, theft by extortion, receiving stolen property and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities after allegedly forcing two teenage girls to work exhausting shifts on a local mushroom farm. Jolomna has been incarcerated since 2024 awaiting trial on charges of child sexual abuse material and criminal use of communication facility.
In this case, investigators allege that Jolomna trapped the minors—ages 14 and 17—by imposing debts for bringing them to the United States. He reportedly held nearly all of their wages, which prevented them from paying off their ‘debt’ and escaping from his control.
The two girls came to the U.S. with the hope of supporting their families. Instead, both girls were allegedly kept out of school and were subjected to grueling conditions, working 16 hours a day, seven days a week, totaling 112 hours. Attorney General Dave Sunday described Jolomna as “a man preying on vulnerable girls who wanted to make an honest living.”
The 17-year-old, who arrived under sponsorship, intended to earn money to care for her sick father and relatives in Guatemala. The 14-year-old, from Mexico, was also forced to perform domestic chores in Jolomna’s home.
Major Serell Ulrich, Director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, stated that the arrest reflects “a coordinated effort between the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General [that] underscores our commitment to protecting victims, holding traffickers accountable, and ensuring the safety of communities across the Commonwealth.” He added that the arrest demonstrates a sustained effort to dismantle criminal networks, safeguard victims, and uphold the rule of law throughout Pennsylvania.
The CSE Institute commends the joint operation between the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General on the use of 18 Pa.C.S. § 3012(b) to prosecute exploitation. The effective use of Pennsylvania’s comprehensive human trafficking statue equips the Commonwealth to address all forms of trafficking and provides survivors justice through accountability of exploiters.
Per Attorney General Sunday, labor trafficking may not always be in the headlines but it is a “cruel and dehumanizing behavior that forces victims into a routine of helplessness and silence.” While victims can come from all backgrounds, ages, and genders, traffickers will target vulnerable populations. Economic need and poverty are high risk factors for victimization.
For example, non-citizens —including those on temporary work visas— are at greater risk of exploitation. Temporary work visa programs, such as the H-2A, H-2B, J-1, and A-3/G-5 visas, are intended to benefit both workers and the U.S. economy. However, studies show that foreign workers holding these visas are frequently exploited or trafficked.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) observes that labor trafficking is particularly high in sectors characterized with informality, weak regulation, and poor oversight, like agriculture. Importantly, labor trafficking can occur without cross-border movement, even within victims’ own communities and geographic area. Employers can become labor traffickers when they use a coercive means to compel someone to work or hinder their ability to leave.
Debt bondage is a common tool used by traffickers to control victims, as seen in this case. Traffickers often saddle workers with crippling debts, using the financial burden to maintain control. These circumstances trap victims in a cycle of fear, dependence, and isolation, making it even harder for them to escape their situation.
Many of the factors that come with migration exacerbate the risk of exploitation for immigrants. In one report, approximately one-third of all immigrants in the United States were low-income, meaning that their family income was 200 percent below of the federal poverty level. Low-income immigrants normally lack access to healthcare, lawful employment, and housing. Language and culture barriers also create conditions in which traffickers can exploit them without fear of being reported.
This lack of support makes it easier for traffickers to continue their abuse unchecked, highlighting the urgent need for more inclusive resources and protections for vulnerable communities. Recognizing these tactics is essential to dismantling the systems that enable labor trafficking to flourish.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.