ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A woman accused of keeping an illegal immigrant as a servant at her upstate New York mansion says the housekeeper has become a prosecution witness to try to get legal status to stay in the U.S.
Prosecutors say Annie George, who faces a federal felony, kept her servant overworked, underpaid and essentially captive for years.
Both sides agree the housekeeper, identified only as V.M., worked for George, her late husband and six children.
Investigators removed V.M. in May 2011 after her son in India called the National Human Trafficking Resources Center, which says it has identified hundreds of similar U.S. cases.
George, who faces trial Aug. 27, is accused of harboring an illegal immigrant for financial gain, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. She could also lose her mansion.
