In a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities exploited in human trafficking schemes, Bolaji Bolarinwa, a 51-year-old former nurse from Moorestown, New Jersey, has permanently surrendered her professional nursing licenses following a federal conviction for forced labor. Bolarinwa, a U.S. citizen originally from Nigeria, orchestrated a coercive operation between 2015 and 2016 that targeted two vulnerable women, luring them to the United States with false promises of education and opportunity only to subject them to grueling domestic servitude. The New Jersey Board of Nursing’s revocation order, announced this week, underscores the incompatibility of such criminal conduct with the ethical standards of healthcare professionals. This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat modern-day slavery within immigrant communities and the accountability measures imposed on licensed practitioners who betray public trust.
The Deceptive Recruitment and Exploitation Scheme
Bolaji Bolarinwa’s scheme began in late 2015 when she and her husband, Isiaka Bolarinwa, recruited the first victim from Nigeria under the guise of providing educational and employment opportunities in the U.S. The woman, unfamiliar with American immigration processes, was enticed with assurances of support and a chance to build a better life. Upon arrival in December 2015, Bolarinwa immediately confiscated her passport and immigration documents, severing her ability to leave or seek help independently. What followed was nearly a year of unrelenting domestic labor: the victim was forced to perform around-the-clock household chores, childcare for the Bolarinwas’ children, and errands, often working 18-hour days with minimal food, sleep, or compensation.
The exploitation escalated with physical and psychological abuse. Bolarinwa subjected the woman to beatings, verbal threats of deportation or harm to her family back home, and constant surveillance to prevent escape. Isolation was a key tactic; the victim was prohibited from contacting friends or family and was kept under watch even during rare outings. Authorities later described this as a calculated effort to harbor the woman for financial gain, as the unpaid labor freed Bolarinwa to maintain her nursing career at a local hospital while her husband pursued business ventures.
In April 2016, the couple repeated the pattern with a second victim, a young Nigerian woman who entered the U.S. on a student visa. Bolarinwa promised to sponsor her studies and provide housing in exchange for light domestic help. Instead, upon arrival, her documents were seized, and she was thrust into the same cycle of servitude. This victim endured similar abuses, including physical assaults—on at least one occasion involving Isiaka Bolarinwa—and threats that exploited her precarious immigration status. The women were housed in the Bolarinwas’ Burlington County home, where they cleaned, cooked, and cared for children without pay, their labor valued at over $87,000 in restitution terms.
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The scheme unraveled in October 2016 when the second victim, attending a nearby college, confided in a professor about her ordeal. The professor promptly alerted the FBI, triggering an investigation that uncovered evidence of document confiscation, surveillance footage, and victim testimonies detailing the couple’s control tactics. Federal prosecutors emphasized that Bolarinwa’s actions constituted document servitude, a charge reflecting how she weaponized immigration papers to enforce compliance. This phase of the case exposed the intersection of human trafficking and domestic work, a hidden epidemic affecting immigrant women who arrive seeking the American dream but encounter exploitation instead.
Federal Conviction and Sentencing Outcomes
The legal reckoning came swiftly after the FBI’s involvement. In April 2024, following a two-week trial in Camden, New Jersey, a federal jury convicted Bolaji Bolarinwa on multiple counts: two of forced labor, two of document servitude, and one of alien harboring for financial gain. Her husband, Isiaka, 67, was also found guilty on two counts of forced labor and one count of alien harboring, though his conviction on the latter was later overturned on appeal. The trial revealed damning evidence, including the victims’ accounts of beatings with objects like belts and hot irons, as well as threats of abandonment or worse if they resisted.
Prosecutors portrayed Bolarinwa as the primary architect, leveraging her nursing background—ironically rooted in caregiving—to manipulate and dominate. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey stated post-conviction that the verdict “vindicates the rights of victims who were subjected to years of coercive abuse and forced labor,” reaffirming the office’s commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon echoed this, noting the Justice Department’s resolve in enforcing laws against such “cruel and inhumane” acts.
Sentencing occurred on May 9, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Judge Christine P. O’Hearn imposed 45 months in federal prison on Bolarinwa, a term reflecting the severity of her role in the prolonged exploitation. She was also fined $35,000 and ordered to pay $87,518.72 in restitution to the victims, compensating for lost wages and suffering. Upon release, Bolarinwa faces three years of supervised release, during which she must undergo counseling and avoid contact with the victims. Isiaka received a lighter 30-month sentence, highlighting the court’s view of Bolaji’s dominant involvement.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Newark Field Office described the case as emblematic of broader trafficking challenges: “Bolarinwa lured these women with false promises, held them captive, and subjected them to physical abuse—all while profiting from their free labor.” The convictions carried no acquittals on core charges, underscoring the jury’s rejection of the defense’s claims that the women were merely “helpers” in a cultural exchange. This outcome not only delivered justice but also served as a deterrent, with officials urging the public to report suspicious domestic arrangements involving immigrants.
License Revocation and Broader Professional Ramifications
The nursing board’s action came on October 1, 2025, when Bolarinwa voluntarily surrendered her registered nurse (RN) and advanced practice nurse (APN) licenses in a consent order with the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The revocation, effective immediately, bars her from reapplying for 10 years and stems from her failure to disclose the pending federal charges during a 2023 license renewal—a violation of professional ethics. The state Division of Consumer Affairs cited her crimes as “incompatible with the safety, welfare, and trust demanded of a nurse.”
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin emphasized the decision’s protective intent: “The criminal acts this licensee perpetrated against her victims demonstrate an utter disregard for the safety of others and an appalling lack of compassion that has no place in the nursing profession.” Elizabeth M. Harris, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, added that Bolarinwa’s “physical and mental abuse of two vulnerable women flies in the face of the fundamental principles of nursing,” justifying her permanent removal from practice.
This revocation closes a chapter but amplifies calls for stricter vetting in healthcare. Bolarinwa had worked as a nurse while exploiting the victims, raising questions about background checks for licensed professionals. The case aligns with national trends: the U.S. Department of Justice reported over 1,000 human trafficking convictions in 2024 alone, many involving coerced labor in private homes. For the victims, restitution provides some measure of recovery, though officials note the lasting trauma of isolation and abuse.
Bolarinwa’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale for immigrant communities, where promises of opportunity can mask predation. As she begins her prison term, the focus shifts to prevention—through education, reporting hotlines, and interagency cooperation. This incident reinforces that no profession is immune to ethical breaches, and accountability must extend beyond criminal courts to professional licensing bodies. The women she exploited, now free, represent resilience amid systemic failures, their stories fueling advocacy for stronger anti-trafficking measures.