U.S. sentences Ukrainian to life for human trafficking

PanARMENIAN.Net - A U.S. court has sentenced a Ukrainian national to life in prison plus another 20 years for human trafficking, RIA Novosti reported citing Radio Liberty’s Ukrainian service.

Yemelyan Botsvinyuk, 52, has been convicted for illegally bringing some 30 Ukrainian migrant workers to the United States, most of whom were not paid for their work while being sexually abused and beaten, the report said.

Botsvinyuk was arrested in Berlin in 2010 and subsequently extradited to the United States to face trial. Investigators believe he acted in cooperation with his brother Stepan.

Stepan Botsvinyuk, 35, was arrested in California in 2010, according to Ukrainian media. He faces a punishment of some 20 years in jail for extortion. A verdict in his case is expected later on Tuesday.

Investigators are also looking into the possible involvement of another three Botsvinyuk brothers in the case, the Radio Liberty said. The three left the United States in 2007, it said without specifying on their whereabouts.