On August 12, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with other law enforcement agencies, rescued 27 people, including 10 children under the age of 12, from a human trafficking ring in Nebraska.
This illegal operation, run by five Indian nationals, exploited vulnerable people for profit through sex and labor trafficking.
The victims were held in filthy, cockroach-infested rooms at several hotels and eyebrow salons in the Omaha metro area and central Nebraska, with no access to basic sanitation or safety.
When and Why It Started
The trafficking ring is believed to have started around 2021, based on a multi-year investigation that began after public tips about suspicious activities. The criminals targeted undocumented immigrants, forcing them into grueling work and sexual exploitation to make money.
They also shielded drug traffickers and encouraged illegal activities at their properties, leading to significant profits, including over $565,000 in cash seized during the operation.
Who Was Involved
The operation involved multiple agencies working together, including ICE, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, the Omaha Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Branch, the United States Marshals Service, and the Nebraska State Attorney General’s Office.
The five people arrested were:
- Kentakumar Chaudhari, 36, of Elkhorn
- Rashmi Ajit Samani, 42, of Elkhorn
- Amit Prahladbhai Chaudhari, 32, of Omaha
- Amit Babubhai Chaudhari, 33, of Omaha
- Maheshkumar Chaudhari, 38, of Norfolk
These individuals owned or managed the hotels and salons.
They face federal charges for labor trafficking, sex trafficking, harboring illegal aliens, and money laundering.
Additionally, 14 other illegal immigrants living with the victims were detained, including individuals with prior criminal records like child endangerment and drug possession.
Where It Happened
The defentants owned or operated several hotels where the trafficking ring allegedly operated out of in the Omaha area. Federal search warrents were executed for these hotels:
- AmericInn in Omaha
- The Inn (formerly Super 8) at 9305 S 145th St., Omaha
- New Victorian at 10728 L St., Omaha
- Roadway Inn at 1110 Fort Crook Rd S, Bellevue.
Search warrants were also executed at “Brow and Lash” salons, including one in Westroads Mall, and two homes linked to the suspects.
How It Was Discovered
The investigation began about four years ago when concerned citizens reported suspicious activities, including child workers and sex trafficking, to human trafficking hotlines.
The FBI’s Omaha Field Office, led by Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel, worked with ICE and local police to uncover the operation.
A key moment came when a federal source entered a hotel room and found victims sleeping on the floor with cockroaches crawling on them.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer noted that over 100 officers were involved, especially after a related juvenile sex trafficking case was uncovered earlier in 2025 at one of the hotels.
The operation, part of the FBI’s “Summer Heat Initiative,” involved executing search warrants at 14 business locations and two residences on August 12, 2025.
Where Are the Victims Now?
The 27 victims, including 10 children and 17 adults, were rescued and are receiving support. Victim specialists from the FBI and other agencies are providing crisis intervention, emergency food, clothing, transportation, and help finding shelter or housing.
The Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force is also working to connect victims with trauma-informed services to aid their recovery. While specific details about their current locations are not public to protect their safety, the focus is on ensuring they receive care and support to rebuild their lives.
Additional Important Information
The trafficking ring was complex, involving not only sex and labor trafficking but also drug trafficking, with overdoses reported at the hotels.
One hotel kept Narcan at the front desk due to frequent drug overdoses, and stairwells were littered with needles.
The suspects also allegedly tried to defraud the U.S. government by staging a fake robbery in 2022 to obtain U visas, which are meant for crime victims who help law enforcement.
One defendant discussed smuggling people from India to the U.S., and co-conspirators transported immigrants to Washington state for fraudulent driver’s licenses, charging about $1,000 per document.
The operation generated significant illegal profits, and authorities seized jewelry worth about $65,000 in addition to the cash and drugs.
U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods called these crimes “modern-day slavery” and praised the teamwork of law enforcement to stop the perpetrators.
The investigation is ongoing, and the FBI is asking anyone with information about similar crimes in Nebraska to contact their Omaha field office.
Source:
For more details, visit the official Department of Homeland Security statements:
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