Man in Las Vegas Charged with Enslaving Three Cuban Immigrants

A 50-year-old man named Rafael Juan Mitjans from Las Vegas, Nevada, is currently facing serious federal charges. He is accused of subjecting three Cuban immigrants to domestic servitude, alongside various immigration and human trafficking offenses. Mitjans appeared before Federal Magistrate Brenda N. Weksler last week, charged with orchestrating a forced labor scheme that allegedly spanned over ten months.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that between September 20, 2023, and July 31, 2024, Mitjans confiscated the passports, immigration papers, and other official IDs of three Cuban nationals. This was allegedly done to restrict their freedom of movement and coerce them into performing domestic duties under servile conditions.

"The indictment claims Mitjans deliberately limited the victims' ability to move and travel, ensuring his control over them and their continued labor services," the judicial document reveals.

Deceptive Promises and Immigration Fraud

Investigations uncovered that, beyond the physical and document constraints imposed, Mitjans provided false statements to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Between June and September 2023, he promised to provide the victims with basic necessities.

In his declarations to USCIS, Mitjans assured that he would supply the victims with "a monthly stipend, a room with a bed, television, desk, laptop, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and three meals daily." However, the prosecution maintains that Mitjans was fully aware these promises were false, with no intention of fulfilling them.

Federal Charges and Upcoming Trial

On March 12, 2025, a federal grand jury handed down an indictment against Mitjans, charging him with multiple felonies. Specifically, he faces three charges of forced labor, three charges of document-related illegal conduct to facilitate human trafficking and forced labor, along with three additional charges of false statements in immigration documents.

Mitjans is scheduled to appear again on May 19, 2025, for a jury trial presided over by District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison per charge.

Protection of Victim Identities

So far, authorities have not released additional details regarding the identities of the Cuban victims or the specific conditions they endured during their period of servitude. The prosecution is keeping sensitive information confidential to protect those affected. The accused's nationality has also not been disclosed.

Collaboration and Federal Investigation

This case results from a collaborative investigation spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The Clark County School District Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Office of Inspector General, and Diplomatic Security Services also participated in the investigation.

Interim U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent Lester R. Hayes, Jr., in charge of HSI Las Vegas, released details of the case in an official statement. The indictment is part of ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat human trafficking and safeguard victims of such crimes.