FBI raids Bartow County flooring manufacturer in 'labor trafficking investigation'

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. - FBI Atlanta and other law enforcement members raided Wellmade Industries, a flooring manufacturing company in Cartersville, on Wednesday afternoon. Officials said this came as part of a multi-year investigation into labor trafficking.

The company’s owner, Zhu Chen, and his nephew were arrested and face charges of trafficking persons for labor or sexual servitude.

Victims reportedly forced to live in inadequate conditions

What we know:

Homeland Security (HSI), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Bartow County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies joined forces with FBI Atlanta in executing search warrants at the business on Wednesday afternoon.

There were allegations that victims were being brought in from other countries and forced to live in inadequate conditions and work for Wellmade for little pay.

"This is an active, ongoing labor trafficking investigation alleging Wellmade Industries is using fraud and coercion to induce Chinese nationals and other immigrants to work," FBI Atlanta posted on social media just before 2 p.m.

HSI confirmed there were hundreds of employees at the company. Dozens of them are potential victims.

At least 20 translators and a victim specialist have been brought in to assist them, according to the FBI.

Zhu Chen, the owner of Wellmade Industries, was arrested. Jiayi Chen, was also booked into the jail on the same charges. Employees say he is the owner's nephew, who also worked at the company. 

While acknowledging the large law enforcement presence in the area, FBI Atlanta said there was no immediate threat to the public.

Workers reportedly brought in from overseas

What they're saying:

"This operation was related to allegations of labor trafficking concerning foreign nationals and other financial crimes," said Lindsay Williams of Homeland Security. "The victims who are workers here are from several countries but primarily from China."

Agents allege that workers were brought from overseas and forced to work under poor conditions for low wages.

"It was just a bad, bad situation," said a former employee who once managed the company’s warehouse. "Horrible — you had unsafe conditions in there. People working in there with no heat."

The same former employee described overcrowded housing and a rotating shift system used to transport workers. "Maybe 12 people per house," he said. "They worked two different shifts. So they would have a van go pick up one crew, bring them to work. When that crew got here, they’d take the crew that was already here, take them home."

As agents served the warrants, dozens of employees on-site were taken to an off-site location for interviews.

"We’ll interview them and find out what they know about the working conditions and the allegations of labor trafficking," said FBI Assistant Special Agent Brian Ozden, who confirmed the investigation is ongoing.

Another man, Ziya Chen, identified by authorities as the owner’s nephew, was also booked into the Bartow County Jail on similar charges.

"It’s about time. That’s all I can say. It’s about time," the former employee added.

What you can do:

"The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners and investigating allegations of human trafficking and to break the cycle of force, fraud, or coercion that binds victims to their traffickers," a spokesperson for FBI Atlanta said. "To be successful, we need your help. Please report alleged human trafficking to law enforcement or submit information to tips.fbi.gov. Tips can also be sent to the HSI Tipline at 877-4-HIS-TIP."