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Reddy may admit to sex slavery

J M Menezes

Nearly 15 months after the death of a 17-year-old pregnant girl reportedly brought to America under a falsely obtained visa, her employer, who is accused of having had sex with her, is expected to plead guilty on Monday.

Though officials in Berkeley, California, offer no comment, they are not denying that Lakireddy Bali Reddy, 63, will plead guilty to criminal charges connected with smuggling young Indian women into America for cheap labour and sex. Many members of Reddy's family were also investigated in the sex and smuggling case.

As news of the plea bargain leaked out, several local organisations that have been opposed to H-1B visas fumed against letting Reddy and members of his family get away with milder convictions.

John William Templeton of the Coalition for Fair Employment in Silicon Valley, for one, wants the Reddys to be tried and punished to the extent that they become an example against visa fraud.

Reddy, free on a $ 10 million bail, faces over 20 years in a federal prison and a fine of up to $ 750,000.

He is accused of immigration fraud, transporting minor girls for sex and submitting false tax records.

His son, Vijay Lakireddy, free on a $ 500,000 bail, is charged with immigration fraud and importing aliens for immoral purposes. He too faces a sentence and fine similar to his father.

The other defendants charged with conspiracy each faces up to five years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine.

Reddy, the richest landlord in the university town with an income of more than $ 1 million a month, has been running a slew of businesses for over two decades. At least two members of his family -- his brother and sister-in-law -- are also expected to plead guilty.

But Reddy's other son, Prasad, owner of the two restaurants named after him, changed his mind last year about pleading guilty. Reddy and Vijay Kumar Lakireddy, who ran a hi-tech employment agency, were first indicted last February.

According to the prosecution, Reddy and Lakireddy got a brother and sister from Andhra Pradesh to pose as the parents of the two girls, 17 and 15. The 'family' came to America on a temporary hi-tech visa obtained through Lakireddy. The sisters and another young woman lived with Reddy in one of his apartments while the 'parents' lived in a nearby apartment.

When one of the sisters died on November 24, 1999, of carbon monoxide poisoning when a heater in the apartment malfunctioned, there were hardly any questions asked about her relationship with Reddy. The other sister, who had also become unconscious because of carbon monoxide fumes, survived.

Two university students opened the can of worms when they questioned why the two girls did not attend college, which led to investigations and finally Reddy's arrest early last year.

The Reddy family was prepared to plead guilty last October, but the efforts were postponed when the media also opposed a closed-door hearing.

ALSO READ:
The Reddy Case: The Complete Coverage

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