Brookfield Couple Deported to Manila in Maid Slavery Case

A Brookfield couple were deported to the Phillippines Thursday after serving six years behind bars for illegally secreting a Filipina maid in their home for 19 years.

Jefferson Calimlim Sr., 67, and his wife Elnora, 66, were deported Tuesday from the United States under escort of federal immigration and customs enforcement agents, arriving in Manila Thursday, the agency announced.

Jefferson Calimlim was a practicing ear, nose and throat doctor; his wife was a licensed physician who stopped working in 1982.

"The removal of the Calimlims concludes one of our most significant human trafficking investigations," said Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of HSI Chicago.

"Most people don't believe that this form of modern-day slavery occurs in the United States. Our HSI agents vigorously target human traffickers, but we also provide support and assistance to the traumatized victims of this heinous crime."

Jury found couple guilty in 2006 trial

The Calimlims and their son took their case to trial in May 2006, arguing they went to great lengths to keep their illegal maid's presence a secret because they were trying to protect her from being sent back to the Phillippines when she wanted to stay in the United States.

Federal prosecutors, however, argued the wealthy couple exploited and manipulated an uneducated woman from an impoverished family into thinking she had no choice but to work for them for long hours with minimal pay under harsh restrictions or face deportation.

After the eight-day jury trial and about seven hours of deliberations, the Calimlims each were convicted of harboring an illegal immigrant for financial gain, conspiracy to harbor an illegal immigrant, forced labor and attempted forced labor.

The maid was 19 when she agreed with her family to come to the United States to work for the Calimlim family. She was 38 when FBI agents raided the family's $1.2 mllion, 8,600-square-foot home on Still Point Trail in September 2004, acting on a tip from the estranged wife of a son, Jack Calimlim.

They found her hiding in the basement, after another son told an agent he hadn't seen her in years.

The couple initially were sentenced to serve four-year terms. But after an appeals court sent it back for a new sentencing, ruling the judge failed to consider prosecution arguments, they were ordered to serve six-year prison terms.

Court records showed prison life was tough on the couple. In the first few months after Elnora Calimlim was sent in March 2007 to Hazelton women’s prison in West Virginia, she lost 20 pounds, records said. She regained it but told her defense attorney she witnessed violent fights and injuries and once saved an inmate’s life.