Atlanta: Judge, Deputy Son Charged with Human Trafficking

A former magistrate judge, his son -- who is a sheriff's deputy -- and the deputy's wife have been indicted on charges of human trafficking, United States Attorney David Nahmias' office said Wednesday morning.

D. William Garrett, 72, a former Fulton County Magistrate Judge; his son, 43-year-old Russell Garrett who is a Forsyth County Sheriff's Department Deputy; and the deputy's wife, 42-year-old Malika Garrett, have all been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of human trafficking, alien harboring, witness tampering, and making false statements, Nahmias' office said.

According to prosecutors, the Garretts convinced an Indian national to come to the United States in January of 2003 under the false impression that she would be Russell and Malika Garrett's nanny. The Garretts allegedly stopped paying the victim for her work as a nanny and threatened her freedom if she refused to work for them.