Las Vegas Man Indicted For Forced Labor Trafficking, Illegal Acts Related To Documents, And Falsifying Immigration Documents

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident made his initial court appearance on Thursday before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler for allegedly forcing three victims from Cuba into domestic servitude, confiscating their passports and other identifications, and providing false statements on immigration documents.

According to allegations contained in court documents and statements made in court, beginning on or about September 20, 2023, to about July 31, 2024, Rafael Juan Mitjans (50) took the passports, immigration documents, and other government identification documents belonging to three victims with the intent to restrict the victim’s ability to move and travel in order to maintain the labor and services of the victims.

Further, as alleged, between June 18, 2023, and September 17, 2023, Mitjans provided false statements to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that he would provide the victims with basic living needs, including money each month, a room with a bed, television, desk, and laptop, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and three meals per day. He knew the statements on the immigration forms were false.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment on March 12, 2025, charging Mitjans with three counts of forced labor, three counts of unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking and forced labor, and three counts of false statements on immigration documents. A jury trial has been scheduled before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on May 19, 2025.

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and HSI Las Vegas acting Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr. made the announcement.

HSI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Clark County School District Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Rose is prosecuting the case.

To report criminal violations of forced labor, contact the Homeland Security Investigations tip line at 1-866-347-2423 or submit an HSI tip form online.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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