After a trial, jury unanimously returned guilty verdicts earlier this week, Criminal Court "A" Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie on Friday, July 10, 2026, sentenced seven members of a human trafficking syndicate to 50 years imprisonment each for operating a fake Canada job recruitment scheme that deceived dozens of Liberians.
The court found that the defendants used Infinitive Millennials Star Platinum Limitless, Inc., operating under the name Q-Net, as a front to recruit victims with false promises of overseas employment and a better life in Canada.
According to the prosecution, the syndicate recruited at least 57 victims from Nimba, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Bomi, Lofa and other counties, collecting between US$950 and US$4,500 from each victim as supposed processing fees. Instead of being transported abroad, the victims were taken to a fenced compound in Gbangba Town along the Robertsfield Highway, where they were unlawfully confined.
Survivors testified that their mobile phones were confiscated and they were forced to demand more money from relatives. Those who failed to comply were allegedly tortured through prolonged exposure to the sun, forced consumption of excessive water, food deprivation, verbal abuse and hard physical labor.
Several female victims also testified that they were repeatedly sexually exploited by convicted ringleaders Bill Plato and Wuo Zegarsco Garteh.
During the trial, defense lawyers argued that the matter was merely a dispute involving a legitimate network marketing business and maintained that no human trafficking had occurred because the victims never crossed Liberia's borders.
Judge Willie dismissed the argument, ruling that under Liberia's Trafficking in Persons Act of 2021, the offence of human trafficking does not require victims to leave the country, provided they were recruited, harbored or exploited through fraud, coercion or deception.
Following the guilty verdict, the court sentenced Wuo Zegarsco Garteh, Daylue Kargo, Rudolph S. Flomo, Bill Plato, Stanley Wonanbaye, Jerome Genseh and Alexander Plato to 50 years imprisonment each. The court also ordered each convict to pay a US$10,000 fine, in addition to a combined US$90,000 in restitution to the victims.
Three defendants Maxi Wonanbaye, Marthaline Y. Tompia and Preston Godfrey who pleaded guilty during the proceedings were each sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, fined US$500, and ordered to pay US$10,000 each in restitution.
Following the sentencing, defense lawyers formally announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia, challenging both the convictions and the sentences imposed by the trial court. Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie acknowledged the appeal, noting that it is a constitutional right guaranteed to every convicted person under Liberian law. The convicted defendants were subsequently remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison to begin serving their sentences pending further judicial proceedings.
The judgment is regarded as one of the toughest penalties imposed under Liberia's anti-human trafficking law and sends a strong warning against fraudulent overseas employment schemes.
