Forsyth deputy, wife, father charged with human trafficking

ATLANTA - Forsyth County Deputy Sheriff Russell Garrett, 43, his wife Malika Garrett, 42, both of Woodstock, and his father D. William Garrett, Jr., 72, a Fulton County Magistrate Judge, of Alpharetta, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in a nine-count indictment, charging the defendants with human trafficking, alien harboring, witness tampering and making false statements.

According to United States Attorney David Nahmias and the information presented in court, the indictment alleges that in January 2003 all three defendants conspired to encourage and induce the victim, a female Indian national, to enter the United States under false pretenses for the purpose of serving as a nanny for Malika and Russell Garrett's children. According to the indictment, the Garretts later stopped paying the victim for her work as a nanny, significantly curtailed her freedom and ability to leave their home and threatened to malign her to her family in India if she did not work for them.

Documents say the Garretts compelled the victim to work in their home for up to 16 hours a day, nearly every day. The indictment further alleges that, to control the victim, the couple insulted her, intimidated her and threatened her with jail and deportation. With the assistance of a neighbor, the victim escaped the Garretts' home.

In addition, the indictment alleges that after the victim escaped, Malika and Russell Garrett conspired to spread vicious, false rumors about her in her Atlanta neighborhood and her Indian community, and that they falsely accused the victim of theft to local authorities; reported the victim's illegal status to federal authorities; and falsely accused the victim of engaging in terrorism-related activities to the Department of Homeland Security.

Finally, the indictment alleges that Russell Garrett and D. William Garrett made false statements to the Department of State to obtain a visa for the victim in which they attached documents showing that they were in law enforcement. The document further alleges that Malika Garrett made false statements to the Department of Homeland Security to obtain a visa extension for the victim; and that she made false statements to the Department of Homeland Security and to the Department of Justice, claiming that the female victim should be investigated for possible terrorism.

If convicted, Malika Garrett faces a maximum penalty of 60 years imprisonment; Russell Garrett faces a maximum penalty of 50 years imprisonment; and D. William Garrett faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.