Three Missouri residents have received prison sentences for their roles in a forced labor case involving an Indian national who came to the United States for education. Venkatesh Sattaru was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison. Nikhil Penmatsa received a 37-month sentence, and Sravan Penumetcha received a 30-month sentence.
Victim Was Forced to Work and Faced Abuse
The victim was Sattaru’s cousin, who arrived in St. Louis on December 16, 2022. According to prosecutors, he was made to perform household chores, run errands and work for a company owned by Sattaru. He lived at several Missouri properties controlled by Sattaru.
Prosecutors said the victim’s immigration documents were confiscated and that he faced sleep deprivation, physical abuse and restricted access to food, bathing and bathrooms. The abuse included dangerous weapons and caused serious injuries. Authorities learned of the situation after receiving a request for a welfare check in November 2023.
Sentences Include Federal and State Prison Terms
U.S. District Judge John A. Ross sentenced 38-year-old Sattaru on October 8, 2026. His 50-month federal sentence will run concurrently with a five-year state sentence for second-degree domestic assault.
Sattaru pleaded guilty to offenses involving forced labor, confiscation or concealment of immigration documents, and theft of government funds. He also paid $74,634 in forfeiture and $83,776 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Penmatsa, 30, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison in August. His federal sentence will run consecutively to a three-year state prison term. Penumetcha, 26, received a 30-month federal sentence in June. Both pleaded guilty to knowingly confiscating or concealing immigration documents.
Case Began With a Welfare Check
The case drew attention after the men’s arrests in November 2023. The sentencing concludes the federal proceedings against the three men for their roles in the case, which involved forced labor, immigration-document abuse and theft of government funds.
