HONOLULU (AP) - The owners of Hawaii's second-largest farm face new federal charges that they exploited dozens of Thai workers by lying about their wages and confining them to the farm.
The 12-count indictment on Wednesday alleges brothers Alec and Mike Sou, of Aloun Farms, lured the workers with false promises of high wages and three years of employment, then kept them working by threatening deportation and confiscating their visas.
A third man, Siew Khiong Khoo, of Thai Taipei Manpower Co., also is charged.
Eric Seitz, Alec Sou's attorney, says his client will plead not guilty.
The Sous last month changed their pleas to not guilty rather than face up to five years in prison under a plea agreement.
They could now get 20 years in prison if convicted.