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Posted on Fri, May 6, 2011 : 6:06 p.m.

Ypsilanti Township man accused of trafficking children into the U.S. from Africa

By Lee Higgins

An Ypsilanti Township man is accused of trafficking four of his relatives into the United States from Africa five years ago and forcing them to work at his home - allegedly dishing out severe beatings if they failed to follow orders.

Jean-Claude Kodjo Toviave, 42, is being detained without bond on charges of forced labor, human trafficking, visa fraud and mail fraud, federal court records show.

He also was charged today by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office with three counts of third-degree child abuse in a case that involves three elementary-aged children.

His attorney, David Tholen, could not immediately be reached for comment this afternoon.

Toviave, who worked as a janitor at the University of Michigan and as a part-time tennis instructor at the Huron Valley Tennis Club, was arrested when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided his home on Maplelawn Drive, near Tuttlehill and Martz roads, at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Among the items recovered: journals kept by the victims detailing the alleged beatings and a broom handle and plunger reportedly used to carry them out.

One victim reported Toviave "did not want her to be free," while another said Toviave "threatened to kill him with his own hands," court records say.

Court records allege that Toviave beat the victims or deprived them of food if they failed to complete chores or their homework.

The victims, who Toviave reportedly passed off as his own children, were ages 23, 21, 20 and 15, records show. They are in the custody of state Children's Protective Services, said Khaalid Walls, an ICE spokesman in Detroit.

Investigators say Toviave put false information on immigration documents and misrepresented the ages of the victims and his relationship with them.

He was arraigned on Thursday in federal court in Detroit, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurie J. Michelson ordered that he be detained.

In addition to federal charges, Toviave was charged today by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office with three counts of third-degree child abuse. In that case, he is accused of beating two 7-year-old boys and a 10-year-old girl with a broom handle at his home on Dec. 28, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department spokesman Derrick Jackson said. CPS contacted deputies about the alleged beating on Jan. 10, Jackson said.

Mike McClure, manager of the Huron Valley Tennis Club, said he was surprised by the allegations.

"It's out of character," McClure said. "It doesn't fit with what I know about him."

Toviave is originally from the West African country of Togo and has been in the U.S. since at least 2002, records say. If convicted of the federal charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.

Comments

prism

Mon, May 9, 2011 : 5:53 a.m.

Each year by some estimates, hundreds of thousands of girls and boys are trafficked globally. Human trafficking is a global issue. Very few people are actually aware of how large the problem is. Even if people are aware, they generally turn a blind eye towards the entire situation. For this reason, the level of awareness needs to be increased drastically. &quot;Sold: An MTV EXIT Special&quot;, a gripping documentary presented by Indian actress and UNFPA Ambassador, Lara Dutta. The Program introduces the tragedy of trafficking in South Asia where thousand of young girls and boys are sold into modern-day slavery and shows how each one of us can help to prevent modern-day slavery. To watch this documentary online visit <a href="http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/479" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/479</a>

CommonThought

Sun, May 8, 2011 : 12:54 a.m.

&quot;Ypsilanti Township man is ACCUSED of trafficking&quot;

Christy Summerfield

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.

Boy do I agree with ronaldduck. I kept rereading the article to see if I could somehow make it make sense. And it doesn't. Makes me wonder if the people who write these articles proof them before they post them!

Yao

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.

I live in Togo and am embarrassed by this. This is not tolerated in Togo and is illegal. What will happen to the victims? Will they be returned to Togo?

Bogie

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.

Wow. With the comments on here, I'd hate to see the jury in this trial. Let's let the man have his day in court. (not taking away from the charges, but let the facts come out)

Preeti

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 11:33 a.m.

Documentary - &quot;Innocents Lost&quot; reveals about the kidnapped, sold, starved, beaten and set to work round the clock, surviving on rubbish tips and road sides; given to the gods as punishment for a sin committed by a family member; neglected and written off as worthless; dumped in Gulags for stealing a loaf of bread. These are the innocents who are lost. &quot;Innocents Lost&quot; is a hard-hitting documentary film about crimes against children around the world. This documentary brings to the screen the faces and voices of children who are, for a brief moment, given a chance to be heard, a space to speak of their silent unhappiness. To watch please visit - <a href="http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/5076" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/5076</a>

ronaldduck

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 11:18 a.m.

&quot;An Ypsilanti Township man is accused of trafficking four of his relatives into the United States from Africa five years ago&quot; &quot;In that case, he is accused of beating two 7-year-old boys and a 10-year-old girl with a broom handle at his home on Dec. 28.&quot; &quot;The victims, who Toviave reportedly passed off as his own children, were ages 23, 21, 20 and 15, records show.&quot; I'm confused. Typical of the reporting at AA.com.

Rachel

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 4:08 a.m.

I just feel bad for the children. Let's hope they are alright.

Craig Lounsbury

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.

Janitor, tennis instructor, human trafficker....thats what I call an eclectic resume. The usual disclaimer......If he is found guilty.... lock him up and throw away the key.

RJA

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 12:30 a.m.

OMG. when you think you have heard it all, you really haven't. I would like to see him facing at least 40 years. (what more can he do at 84? Near Tuttlehill and Martz roads? (my old stomping grounds). I'm so glad this man was arraigned, and detained. The children must be so happy to be away from him, even in protective services. (these kids don't need this monster) !!!

xmo

Fri, May 6, 2011 : 11:39 p.m.

So, we have an African engaged in the slave trade. &quot;Toviave is originally from the West African country of Togo and has been in the U.S. since at least 2002&quot; I hope he gets a few extra years!

Yao

Sat, May 7, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.

Amen to this!