Human traffickers sentenced

The largest case of human trafficking in Canadian history now has the largest sentence – and it was handed down today in Hamilton.

They came to Canada and declared refugee status, only to run a criminal organization and defraud the govenrment.

Ferenc Domotor Sr winked at his wife as he left the courtroom today. His wife Gyongyi and son Ferenc Jr stood as co-accused in what Justice Stephen Glithrow refered to as disgusting crimes, saying that they involved more greed and nastiness than was necessary.

Back on March 9th he along with son Ferenc Jr pleaded guilty to being the ringleader of a criminal organization which had lured young men to canada with a promise of work and a better life, only to treat them as modern day slaves.

Today Ferenc Sr received a sentence of nine years in prison, the stiffest penalty ever for such a crime. He was given a credit of two years for pleading guilty, thereby saving a lengthy trial and he was given credit for 30 months in pre trial jail time, cutting the total to four and a half years.

His son Ferenc Jr is only 21 years old and was a teen while taking part in these crimes. He received five years and was also given a credit of two years for the guilty plea as well as 18 months for pre trial time served, meaning he will be eligible for release in just a year and a half.

His wife Gyongyi has already served 18 months and was released as was pre-arranged under the guilty plea. She has also been ordered to repay $24,000 which she defrauded from the city of Hamilton.

The family came here from Hungary in 1998 and declared refugee status. They also had their victims declare refugee status and claim social assistance, which was stolen from each victim.

Our Sean Leathong was in court as the sentence was handed down.