WOBURN, Mass. —
A father and son who own two Massachusetts restaurants and a Brazilian relative of theirs are accused of conspiring to obtain labor and services from migrants whom they smuggled into the United States from Brazil through threats of serious harm, according to federal prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that 65-year-old Jesse James Moraes and 43-year-old Hugo Giovanni Moraes, both of Woburn, and 62-year-old Chelbe Williams Moraes, of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were charged in a superseding indictment with forced labor conspiracy.
Jesse Moraes and Hugo Moraes, who own the Woburn restaurants Taste of Brazil, or Tudo Na Brasa, and The Dog House Bar and Grill, were also charged with forced labor and attempted forced labor.
Prosecutors said Jesse Moraes was additionally charged with labor trafficking and attempted labor trafficking, as well as money laundering conspiracy.
In October 2022, all three men were previously charged with encouraging and inducing, and conspiring to encourage and induce, an alien to come to, enter and reside in the U.S. for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, and residence is or will be in violation of the law.
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