Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 12

Woman Who Enslaved Child Returned to U.S.

A woman who was the target of an ICE investigation and who fled after her conviction for enslaving an 11-year-old child has been expelled from Cameroon and returned to the United States to serve a lengthy prison sentence.

Theresa Mubang, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Cameroon, was returned to the United States May 28.

Last year, a federal jury convicted her of involuntary servitude and harboring an illegal alien for financial gain. On Feb. 28 she was sentenced in absentia to 17 and one-half years in prison and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to the now 18-year-old victim. She was awaiting sentencing while wearing an electronic home detention device when she removed the device and fled.

Because the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Cameroon, Mubang's return rested on cooperation between the countries.

"Cooperation between Cameroon and the United States has ensured Mubang will serve the prison term she earned," said Marcy Forman, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Investigations. "This case shows that human trafficking remains a 21st century crime and its victims need champions like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Department of Justice."

The crime for which Mubang was convicted began in November 1996 when Mubang used a false passport to bring Evelyn Chumbow, 11 years old at the time, from Cameroon into the United States. Mubang told Chumbow's family that the child would have a better life and an education in American schools.

In fact, Mubang forbade Chumbow from attending school and making friends with other children, and would not allow the child to leave the home except to perform specific tasks. Mubang cut off communication between Chumbow and her family and forced the child to work as a cook and maid in Mubang's home. Additionall, Mubang made Chumbow care constantly for her sons and sleep on the floor of the children's room. Chumbow was also forced to care for a neighbor's child in the morning and afternoon.

Mubang verbally, mentally and physically abused Chumbow, even using a high-heel shoe, a metal broom handle, a cable TV wire and her fists to severely beat the child. Chumbow escaped Mubang's abuse by running away with a visiting cousin.

As part of the investigation, ICE investigators uncovered that, prior to smuggling Chumbow into the U.S., Mubang brought a nine-year-old Cameroon citizen here. Like Chumbow, that child was also forced to work and was abused.

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Freedom and Heritage

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

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