Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Homeland Security recently arrested a Vietnamese couple and charged them with offenses related to human trafficking in the territory, a case reminiscent of the Daewoosa Samoa garment factory case, which began in the late 1990s in American Samoa. 

The Vietnamese couple, Thi My Linh My Le and her husband Lanh Huu Dang, who own Michael Inc, are facing criminal charges. 

Le is charged with two counts of human trafficking, two counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking, one count of human trafficking of a minor, and one count of conspiracy to commit human trafficking involving a minor. Dang is facing two counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking, one count of conspiracy to commit human trafficking of a minor, and one count of assault. 

The matter is scheduled for a Preliminary Examination hearing before the District Court today. 

The criminal complaint outlines serious allegations against Le and Dang accused of deceiving three Vietnamese nationals. It’s alleged that they made false promises to these individuals, claiming they would facilitate their travel to the United States and secure green cards, which would grant them the legal right to live and work in the country. Court documents indicated that one of the individuals affected was only 17 years old at the time of these occurrences.

According to the complaint, the three victims paid substantial fees for these supposed immigration services, with amounts ranging from $7,100 to $13,000. These payments were made to the couple and to the Leʻs brother, who resided in Vietnam, under the belief that they would receive assistance in their immigration process. 

However, upon arrival, the victims did not find themselves in the U.S. as promised; instead, they were brought to American Samoa. Their arrival occurred between August and October 2023, and they entered the territory on temporary permits valid for only 30 days.

Court filings further reveal that the couple operates a business named Michael Inc., which was incorporated in June 2023. This business encompasses a variety of establishments, including a print shop, sewing shop, barber shop, spa, salon, and restaurant, suggesting a multifaceted operation that employs local workers.

Statements from the victims indicate that up to 20 Vietnamese individuals were reportedly living at the defendantʻs residence in Vaitogi.

The criminal complaints also create a disturbing picture of potential exploitation and an atmosphere of fear surrounding the victims. It brings up the history of American Samoa being the location of one of the largest and most significant human trafficking and modern-day slavery cases ever prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) — the Daewoosa Samoa garment factory case, which began in the late 1990s in American Samoa.

In 1998, a South Korean businessman named Kil Soo Lee purchased a garment factory in Tafuna. He targeted American Samoa because as a U.S. territory, products manufactured there could legally carry the "Made in USA" label and were exempt from U.S. import tariffs, yet the local minimum wage was roughly half that of the U.S. mainland.

Lee recruited more than 250 to 300 workers, primarily young women from Vietnam and China. These workers were lured by promises of stable, high-paying jobs and paid exorbitant recruitment fees ranging from $4,500 to $8,000 — often forcing their families to mortgage their homes or take out heavy loans to afford the down payment. Lee recruited more than 250 to 300 workers, primarily young women from Vietnam and China.

The operation began to unravel between 1999 and 2000 following an "SOS" note from workers that triggered a U.S. Department of Labor investigation. The FBI launched a full-scale international investigation shortly after, raiding the compound and arresting Lee in 2001 before he could flee.

In 2005, Lee was sentenced to 40 years in prison and ordered to pay over $1.8 million in restitution. 

The landmark case directly influenced the implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. Ultimately, more than 200 of the victims were granted special visas allowing them to legally remain and rebuild their lives in the United States.

(Background sources: AI overview of documents and SN Archives)