MONROVIA – Criminal Court “A” has delivered one of the harshest human trafficking judgments in Liberia’s recent history, sentencing seven members of a fraudulent recruitment syndicate to 50 years imprisonment each for orchestrating a fake Canada employment scheme that preyed on the hopes of dozens of vulnerable Liberians.
In a ruling on Friday, July 10, 2026, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie found that the convicted traffickers operated under the guise of Infinitive Millennials Star Platinum Limitless, Inc., doing business as Q-Net, using false promises of lucrative jobs and better lives in Canada to lure victims into a sophisticated trafficking operation.
The court heard that the syndicate recruited at least 57 victims from Nimba, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Bomi, Lofa and several other counties, demanding payments ranging from US$950 to US$4,500 from each victim under the pretense of processing travel and employment documents.
Instead of facilitating overseas employment, prosecutors proved that the victims were transported to a fenced compound in Gbangba Town along the Robertsfield Highway, where they were unlawfully confined and subjected to systematic exploitation.
The evidence presented during the trial painted a disturbing picture of abuse.
Victims testified that immediately upon arrival, their mobile phones were confiscated, cutting off communication with their families. They were then allegedly forced to pressure relatives into sending additional money, while those who failed to meet the traffickers’ demands were subjected to severe punishment.
According to survivor testimony accepted by the court, victims endured prolonged exposure to the scorching sun, forced consumption of excessive quantities of water, food deprivation, verbal abuse, and strenuous physical labor designed to intimidate and control them.
Female survivors further testified that convicted ringleaders Bill Plato and Wuo Zegarsco Garteh repeatedly subjected them to sexual exploitation while they remained under the syndicate’s control.
Throughout the proceedings, defense lawyers maintained that the operation was nothing more than a legitimate network marketing business and argued that no human trafficking offence had occurred because none of the victims had actually crossed Liberia’s borders.
Judge Willie firmly rejected that argument.
In his ruling, he held that Liberia’s Trafficking in Persons Act of 2021 clearly defines human trafficking as recruitment, transportation, harboring or exploitation achieved through fraud, deception, coercion or abuse, regardless of whether victims are taken outside the country.
The court concluded that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants deliberately deceived and exploited the victims for financial gain through an organized criminal enterprise.
Following the convictions, Judge Willie sentenced Wuo Zegarsco Garteh, Daylue Kargo, Rudolph S. Flomo, Bill Plato, Stanley Wonanbaye, Jerome Genseh and Alexander Plato to 50 years imprisonment each.
The court further ordered each convict to pay a fine of US$10,000, in addition to a combined US$90,000 in restitution to compensate the victims.
Three other defendants, Maxi Wonanbaye, Marthaline Y. Tompia and Preston Godfrey, who pleaded guilty during the proceedings, were each sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. They were also fined US$500 each and ordered to pay US$10,000 each in restitution.
Immediately following the sentencing, defense lawyers announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia, challenging both the convictions and the penalties imposed by the trial court.
Judge Willie acknowledged the notice of appeal, emphasizing that every convicted person is constitutionally entitled to seek appellate review under Liberian law.
Pending the outcome of the appeal, all convicted defendants were remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison to begin serving their respective sentences.
