Five individuals have been charged in a federal investigation into alleged human trafficking, labor trafficking, and related crimes at several hotels in the Omaha area and central Nebraska. The charges were announced by United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods following coordinated law enforcement actions on August 12, 2025.
The defendants—Kentakumar Chaudhari (also known as Ken Chaudhari), Rashmi Ajit Samani (also known as Falguni Samani), Amit Prahladbhai Chaudhari (Amit), Amit Babubhai Chaudhari (Matt), and Maheshkumar Chaudhari (Mahesh)—are accused of operating a network that included multiple hotels and “Brow and Lash” salons in the region. Search warrants were executed at four hotel locations: AmericInn at 2920 S 13 Ct., The Inn at 9305 S 145th St., New Victorian at 10728 L St., all in Omaha, and Roadway Inn at 1110 Fort Crook Rd S in Bellevue.
According to the complaint affidavit, law enforcement rescued ten minors who had allegedly been forced to work long hours with little or no pay under exploitative conditions. Seventeen adults were also identified as victims of labor trafficking. Victims reportedly paid for their lodging despite staying in unclean and unsafe accommodations. One account described immigrant victims sleeping on floors infested with cockroaches.
Authorities allege that some defendants also facilitated sex trafficking involving both minors and adults. The complaint states that sex trafficking was not only permitted but encouraged within these hotels, with management allegedly protecting perpetrators from detection by law enforcement.
In addition to human trafficking allegations, investigators claim the hotels served as venues for drug trafficking activities. Drug use was reportedly widespread on the premises, with overdoses occurring frequently enough that Narcan was kept at one hotel’s front desk.
One defendant is accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to obtain U visas—visas reserved for crime victims who assist law enforcement—by staging a fake robbery intended to make another defendant appear eligible for such relief. The complaint further alleges efforts to bring individuals illegally from India into the United States and facilitate fraudulent acquisition of Washington state driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Significant assets linked to these alleged conspiracies were seized during the operation, including more than $565,000 in cash suspected of being involved in money laundering. The United States has filed notice to prevent the sale or transfer of implicated hotel properties while investigations continue; illicit drugs were also confiscated pending further analysis.
Community members played a role by reporting suspicious activity via Human Trafficking Hotlines, prompting further investigation into child labor and sex trafficking complaints associated with these businesses.
U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods stated: “There is no evil greater than the evil that seeks to trap, oppress, and exploit human beings for profit or pleasure. Where that evil exists, Nebraska law enforcement working together at the federal, state, and local levels, as occurred in this case, will seek it, find it, root it out, and ensure every rescued victim has an opportunity to obtain justice and freedom from their captors.”
Woods commended agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Department of Homeland Security; Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office; Omaha Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Branch; United States Marshals Service; and Nebraska State Attorney General’s Office for their joint efforts: “When so many law enforcement agencies come together as one team... there is no organized crime network operating within Nebraska’s borders that can escape identification and accountability.”
Special Agent Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office said: “Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery... We will always stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners to aggressively identify and apprehend perpetrators... Our approach... is always centered on the victims.”
Mark Zito of ICE HSI Kansas City added: “There is nothing more reprehensible than exploiting human beings... These criminals hide in the shadows... but HSI and our federal partners have no intention of stopping until these predators are brought to justice.”
The FBI encourages anyone with information about similar crimes or additional victims related to this investigation to contact its Omaha field office.
