Attys: Biggest US human trafficking case in doubt

HONOLULU – Attorneys say the U.S. government's largest-ever human trafficking case is in jeopardy after charges in a similar case were dropped against a Hawaii farm.

Federal authorities have accused Los Angeles-based labor recruiting company Global Horizons Manpower of manipulating hundreds of Thai workers placed in U.S. farms. A trial against the company's CEO is set for February in Honolulu.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday abruptly dropped similar accusations that owners of Hawaii's Aloun Farms economically entrapped 44 Thai laborers.

The Department of Justice doesn't think the recent dismissal would have an impact, but the attorney for the owners of Aloun Farms says the upcoming case faces setbacks.

The same prosecution team that gave up in the Aloun Farms case is expected to handle the Global Horizons trial.