A San Mateo couple has pleaded not guilty to a slate of labor‑trafficking and related felonies after prosecutors say they abused a 53‑year‑old nanny who came from China to work in their home. Qi Li, 35, and Jie Xu, 39, were arraigned last Thursday and entered not guilty pleas to counts that include assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, wage theft, criminal conspiracy and labor trafficking. Prosecutors allege the woman was forced to work seven days a week for up to 20 hours a day, had her passport seized and was at one point threatened with a kitchen knife.
What prosecutors allege
According to the San Mateo Daily Journal, the woman used an employment agency in China to find the job and arrived in June 2024 to care for the couple’s infant. In July 2024, the defendants allegedly demanded her passport, and the knife incident was reported in August after the child fell ill. District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe wrote in an email, quoted by the outlet, that the nanny was constantly yelled at and berated and was not allowed to go outside unattended.
Charges and court schedule
The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office has charged Li and Xu with assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, wage theft, criminal conspiracy and labor trafficking, according to SFGATE. The pair pleaded not guilty at arraignment and are next due at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City for a pretrial conference on June 23, prosecutors say.
Earlier reporting
Local outlets first reported the case last year after hospital staff said the nanny disclosed the alleged abuse while seeking care for the child. Earlier coverage, which cited KRON4’s reporting, noted Qi Li was arrested at Stanford Medical Center in August 2024 and that both defendants later posted bail and were released, per SFist.
County response and context
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office maintains a Human Trafficking Prevention and Enforcement Initiative that outlines how trafficking is defined and how the office prosecutes forced‑labor cases, including situations in which passports are confiscated or victims are deprived of their liberty. The DA's site notes that the county and local nonprofits also provide housing and victim‑support services during investigations.
Legal implications
Labor‑trafficking under California Penal Code §236.1 criminalizes depriving a person of their liberty to obtain forced labor or services and carries state prison terms and fines if convicted. The statute specifically lists confiscating a passport and using threats or violence as forms of coercion. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case remains in its early stages. Li and Xu have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to return to San Mateo County court on June 23 at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City.
