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Highlands Ranch Man Accused Of Human Trafficking Heads To Trial

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) - A trial is under way for a man from Highlands Ranch accused of human trafficking. The jury will decide if he brought nurses to the United States under false pretenses and then put them to work, collecting much of their pay.

CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger first reported on the case last year and found out more about the charges against Kizzy Kalu.

There is a long list of charges against Kalu, including visa fraud, trafficking in forced labor and money laundering. His attorneys insist he did nothing wrong.

On the witness on the stand, Sarah Schumann, a vice president for a Castle Rock nursing home, testified she hired nurses through Kalu's company. His firm group solicited on the Internet for Pilipino nurses to come to the U.S. under a student visa while earning up to $2,500 a month.

A letter from Kalu to nurses invites them to receive their nursing license in the U.S. They just had to pay a $250 fee through Western Union.

Prosecutors contend Kalu posted a picture of a building on a website purporting it to be a college named Adam University, which doesn't exist. The building in the photo is actually what's now called Colorado Heights University, where Kalu once worked. Adam University's address was listed on Arapahoe Road, but there was no such college there.

Kalu ran his business out of his home in Highlands Ranch.

Jay Moskowitz's nursing home company hired several of the women.

"Some of the nurses came and told us that they weren't getting all the money from Kizzy, the employer, and we started asking questions," Moskowitz said.

CBS4 found a Pilipino nurses website that warned of Kalu's company. It read, "Hey guys! Do not be trapped into this scam. Believe me it's not true."

But Kalu's attorneys are telling the jury he is not guilty and they should not believe a nurse and Kalu's former partner, who was also charged but received a plea bargain for his testimony.

The trial is expected to last about a month.

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