Federal and Local Agencies Investigate Labor Trafficking Allegations at Bartow County Manufacturer

     A significant law enforcement operation unfolded in Cartersville, Georgia, on March 26, 2025, as federal and local agencies launched an investigation into allegations of labor trafficking at Wellmade Industries, a flooring manufacturing company. The operation involved the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Bartow County Sheriff's Office.

     The investigation centers on claims that Wellmade Industries has been using fraud and coercion to induce Chinese nationals and other immigrants to work at its facility. The FBI executed search warrants at the company's 328,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Cartersville, as well as several homes in the area.

     To assist potentially exploited workers, at least 20 translators and a victim specialist have been deployed to the site. The FBI emphasized that there is no immediate threat to public safety despite the increased law enforcement presence in the area.

     Zhu Chen, the owner of Wellmade Industries, has been taken into custody on state charges related to trafficking individuals for labor or sexual servitude. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to report it to the FBI or the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tip line.

     This operation highlights the collaborative efforts of federal and local agencies to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable populations. The investigation also underscores the importance of community vigilance and reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement.

     For more information or to report suspected human trafficking, visit tips.fbi.gov or call the HSI tip line at 877-4-HIS-TIP