Human Trafficking

In a landmark labor trafficking and wage theft case, Guatemalan farmworkers sued Purpose Point Harvesting LLC and its owners in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. The workers said they were lured under the H-2A visa program with false promises, forced to pay illegal fees, had their passports taken, and endured 20-hour days for unfair wages. After a detailed trial, a federal jury on June 6, 2025, found Purpose Point and Emilto “Milton” Moreno Gomez liable under federal and Michigan trafficking laws, wage statutes, and contract terms. Co-owner Lucille Moreno was cleared of trafficking but found liable for some wage and contract violations. Jurors awarded compensatory and punitive damages totaling hundreds of thousands, rejecting the company’s counterclaims. The verdict reinforces protections for migrant laborers and underscores penalties for abusive employment practices.