You gave the appearance of having some insight and some sympathy, but your experience did not deter you from supporting your partner in what you knew full well was a criminal enterprise,\u201d <\/strong>he told Gomuslka. \u201cYou had choices and you made the wrong ones.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\u201cYou identified potential victims by reference to their circumstances, their financial and social vulnerability \u2013 people with little by way of alternative,\u201d he said, addressing both defendants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe victims had cash value to you in the same way cattle would to a farmer,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Could be More Victims<\/strong><\/h2>\nIn April, a jury in Bristol Crown Court convicted the couple of nine charges related to human trafficking and forced labor, and one count of conspiracy to acquire criminal property. On Wednesday, Picton sentenced Tancos and Gomulska to 16 years and nine years, respectively.<\/p>\n
The UK\u2019s National Crime Agency was alerted to the situation after a victim managed to return to Slovakia and inform authorities there of the couple\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n
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UK and Slovakian law enforcement tracked down 42 victims, 29 of whom were prepared to give evidence. Police believe there could be many more victims whom they have been unable to trace.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u201cGaining the victims\u2019 confidence has been fundamental to this case, and a significant amount of work went in to caring for, and engaging with them, throughout the process,\u201d said chief prosecutor, Ruona Iguyovwe, in a statement. \u201cI commend every person who testified for their bravery.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A couple who preyed on vulnerable Slovakian men, trafficking them to the UK to work as modern-day \u201cslaves\u201d in their car wash business, were handed hefty prison sentences Wednesday. Marcos Tancos, 45, and Joanna Gomulska, 46, spent most of the money they earned from their human trafficking operations on gambling, prosecutors said. They recruited their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":218500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Prison for Gambling Couple Who Kept 42 \u2018Slaves\u2019 in UK<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n