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Md. Couple Charged With Keeping Woman In Servitude

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) -- An Upper Marlboro couple has been charged with enticing a Filipina woman to the United States and forcing her to work 13-hour days over a decade.

Alfred Edwards, 73, and Gloria Edwards, 60, face a series of forced labor charges. According to a federal indictment, the couple forced the woman to clean, cook, iron and garden for them between 1999 and 2009.

She was allegedly threatened and hit and never paid directly, though a small amount of money was sent to her eight children in the Philippines. The couple also allegedly required her to marry Alfred Edwards' brother to get a green card.

If convicted, Alfred and Gloria Edwards each face a maximum sentence of up to 50 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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