Case Law Database

Trafficking in persons

United States v. Fang Ping Ding

Fact Summary

The victim, a Chinese national, was recruited by defendants in China, and entered the United States with a B1/B2 visa, which she obtained upon defendants' instruction and advice. Once in the United States, defendant Ding confiscated the victim's passport, visa, and other documents and forced the victim to work without pay as a live-in domestic servant. Ding also maintained control over the victim through physical abuse, and by threatening to report her to law enforcement. To avoid detection by law enforcement, defendants instructed the victim not to leave the house. The victim was forced to work for the defendants from approximately April 2008, when she arrived in the United States, to April 2009, at which point she was rescued by local law enforcement.
Wei Wei Liang and Bo Shen, Ping's daughter and son-in-law, respectively, were convicted on related charges of illegally harboring the victim.

Sentence Date:
2010-11-16
Author:
Human Trafficking Database of the University of Michigan Law School

Keywords

Trafficking in Persons Protocol:
Article 3, Trafficking in Persons Protocol
Article 5, Trafficking in Persons Protocol
Article 6, Trafficking in Persons Protocol
Acts:
Recruitment
Harbouring
Means:
Threat or use of force or other forms of coercion
Abuse of power or a position of vulnerability
Purpose of Exploitation:
Forced labour or services
Slavery or practices similar to slavery
Form of Trafficking:
Transnational
Sector in which exploitation takes place:
Domestic servitude

Cross-Cutting Issues

Gender Equality Considerations

Details

• Female principal offender

Procedural Information

Legal System:
Common Law
Latest Court Ruling:
Court of 1st Instance
Type of Proceeding:
Criminal

1st Instance:

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California- 16-11-2010

The defendants pleaded guilty on Nov. 1, 2010 and were sentenced on Nov. 16, 2011.

 
 

Victims / Plaintiffs in the first instance

Victim:
Anonymous 1
Gender:
Child
Nationality:
Chinese

Defendants / Respondents in the first instance

Defendant:
Fang Ping Ding
Gender:
Female
Age:
62
Legal Reasoning:

Defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful conduct regarding documents in furtherance of forced labor.

Defendant:
Wei Wei Liang
Gender:
Female
Age:
36
Legal Reasoning:

Defendant pleaded guilty to harboring an illegal alien for purposes of private financial gain.

Defendant:
Bo Shen
Gender:
Male
Age:
43
Legal Reasoning:

Defendant pleaded guilty to harboring an illegal alien for purposes of private financial gain.

Charges / Claims / Decisions

Defendant:
Fang Ping Ding
Legislation / Statute / Code:
18 U.S.C. § 1592
Charge details:
Unlawful conduct regarding documents in furtherance of forced labor
Verdict:
Guilty
Charge details:
Conspiracy to harbor an illegal alien
Verdict:
Withdrawn
Term of Imprisonment:
3 years 1 Month
and 3 years supervised release
Compensation / Payment to Victim:
Yes  83866  USD  (50,000-100,000 USD)
Compensation to victim
Fine / Payment to State:
Yes  100  USD  (Up to 10,000 USD) Special assessment
Defendant:
Wei Wei Liang
Charge details:
Harboring an illegal alien for private financial gain
Verdict:
Guilty
Charge details:
Conspiracy to harbor an illegal alien for purposes of private financial gain
Verdict:
Withdrawn
1 day and 3 years of supervised release
Compensation / Payment to Victim:
Yes  83866  USD  (50,000-100,000 USD)
Compensation to victim
Fine / Payment to State:
Yes  100  USD  (Up to 10,000 USD) Special assessment
Defendant:
Bo Shen
Charge details:
Harboring an illegal alien for purposes of private financial gain
Verdict:
Guilty
Charge details:
Conspiracy to harbor an illegal alien for purposes of private financial gain
Verdict:
Withdrawn
One year probationary sentence
Compensation / Payment to Victim:
Yes  83866  USD  (50,000-100,000 USD)
Compensation to victim
Fine / Payment to State:
Yes  100  USD  (Up to 10,000 USD) Special assessment

Court

United States District Court for the Northern District of California