Venkatesh Sattaru, a 38-year-old US Army veteran residing in St. Louis, has been sentenced to prison following his guilty plea for enslaving his cousin, who had traveled to the United States from India. According to court records, the victim arrived in St. Louis in December 2022 and was forced to perform household chores and errands for Sattaru’s company. The abuse persisted for months until the victim was relocated to another residence owned by the accused.
Investigations revealed that Sattaru confiscated the victim’s immigration paperwork to exert control. The victim was subjected to sleep deprivation, restricted access to basic necessities including food and bathroom facilities, and severe physical abuse. Court documents noted that the victim suffered serious bodily injuries caused by the use of dangerous weapons, with punishments administered by Sattaru or his associates, Sravan Penumetcha and Nikhil Penmasta.
Beyond the abuse case, Sattaru was found guilty of defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs. He exploited the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers by exaggerating his disability status, resulting in $83,776 in illicit compensation. Consequently, Sattaru was sentenced to 50 months in prison, which will run concurrently with a five-year sentence for a separate domestic assault conviction. He has also been ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling over $158,000.
Sravan Penumetcha and Nikhil Penmasta, who were involved in the abuse, have also been sentenced to 30 and 37 months in prison, respectively. Records indicate that Sattaru, who originally moved to the US in 2008 and served in the military between 2012 and 2014, had previously operated local business ventures before these criminal activities came to light. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs oversaw the financial recovery efforts associated with the case.
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