Shocking punishment for California man who imprisoned migrants on remote weed farm: Profound imbalance of power

A weed farm boss who trapped three migrant workers on a remote Northern California property, withholding their wages and leaving them stranded for months, has been sentenced to less then a year behind bars.Georgi Antonov Tonev, 45, of Los Angeles, was sentenced Thursday to 320 days in jail after being convicted of multiple crimes against the three Spanish-speaking migrants, including false imprisonment, felony grand theft of wages and unlawful possession of cannabis for sale, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office announced.The nightmare began in 2025, when Mexican migrant Javier Escamilla-Garcia was working in Tennessee and heard about Tonev’s seemingly lucrative offer: $3,500 a month, plus free housing and meals, to work on his cannabis farm.Escamilla-Garcia saved enough money to make the trip to Humboldt County, where two other migrant workers later arrived after receiving the same promise of steady pay.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

Please provide a valid email.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story Instead, authorities said, the men were effectively imprisoned at Tonev’s Showers Pass Farm, a remote property about two hours from his home in Bridgeville.The workers were kept behind a locked gate without a key and were told Tonev was monitoring them through surveillance cameras.“All three workers were trapped at the farm and were reminded that they were not allowed to leave unless they walked,” the DA said.The men spoke no English and had no transportation, no way to get into town and no money.Flooded roads eventually left them even more isolated.“Food was delivered sporadically and no safe drinking water was supplied,” the DA said.

“Two victims suffered medical complications as a result that necessitated professional medical care.”Eventually with no payment for their work, two of the three men to...