Edward sentenced to 10 years in prison and had to pay about $ 273,000 for torturing black employees with intellectual disabilities for years.

Jail and fines with Bobby Paul Edwards, 54, announced by the US Department of Justice today.

Edwards pleaded guilty to forced labor in June last year forcing Smith to work more than 100 hours a week without pay. Edwards used physical force and intimidated African-American staff at a restaurant in Conway, South Carolina from 2009-2014.

During his 5 years as a manager, Edwards expressed racism with Smith, constantly beating him with leather belts and kitchen utensils. Sometimes Edwards even used hot tongs on Smith's neck to force him to work faster. Smith suffered from mental retardation and was afraid of being fired so he remained silent for many years.

"It is unbelievable that forced labor still exists in this country to this day, nearly a century and a half after the Declaration of Slavery Release," Eric Dreiband, Assistant to the Prosecutor General of the Office for Civil Rights said. "The Ministry of Justice will continue to investigate, prosecute and convict traffickers in relation to forced labor, and demand justice for the victims."

In a 2017 interview with CNN, Smith said he was abused by Edwards for years and was forced to live in a small room behind the restaurant and not to meet relatives. Every time the Smith family comes to the restaurant, Edwards will force him to stay in the kitchen.

"I want to get out of there for a long time but I don't have anyone to look for. I can't go anywhere and I can't see anyone in my family," Smith said, adding that he started working as a dishwasher at home. This line was only 12 years old but the incident only started when Edwards was the manager. The victim is about 40 years old.

By October 2014, a regular customer who noticed scars on Smith's body informed the authorities, who took Smith out of the restaurant and began investigating Edwards's allegations of abuse.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at Conway at the time suggested that the local court be tougher on Edwards' crime of violence. "We are talking about slavery here," said Abdullah Mustafa, president of NAACP, the organization that helps file complaints with the Justice and Labor authorities.