{"id":3078,"date":"2026-06-26T12:08:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3078"},"modified":"2026-06-26T12:08:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:08:41","slug":"did-san-mateo-couple-enslave-nanny-in-work-or-are-allegations-absurd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3078","title":{"rendered":"Did San Mateo couple enslave nanny in work, or are allegations ‘absurd’?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SAN MATEO \u2014 A San Mateo couple is accused of working a nanny that came to them from China seven days a week and up to 20 hours per day while also withholding her pay in what prosecutors are calling a case of labor trafficking.<\/p>\n

Read more Possibly distracted lifeguard drives over woman at Peninsula beach<\/a><\/p>\n

The case against 37-year-old Qi Li and 39-year-old Jie Xu also carries an allegation that on one occasion, Li held a kitchen knife to the 53-year-old victim\u2019s neck, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

All of it centers on what happened after Li and Xu obtained the services of a nanny from China, where Li and Xu both are citizens. The nanny was a Chinese citizen who found the job through an employment agency in that country, according to District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe.<\/p>\n

Li and Xu both are Chinese citizens who worked in the United States through the the proper work visas, according to Xu\u2019s attorney Chris Morales. Wagstaffe said the nanny worked for them from June 26, 2024, to Aug. 21, 2024.<\/p>\n

Both have pleaded not guilty. Wagstaffe said they each posted their $250,000 bail and are out of custody.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re brilliant high-tech people. Two master\u2019s degrees,\u201d Morales said. \u201cThey work in high tech. They\u2019re super-well educated, fluent in Mandarin and English. Their daughter was born here, and they brought in a nanny from China to tend to the needs of the family. It\u2019s traditional.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attorney Adam Gasner is defending Li. He did not return multiple calls from this news organization seeking comment.<\/p>\n

Read more DePetris: Israel is the wild card as the US and Iran work to ink a lasting peace deal<\/a><\/p>\n

According to Wagstaffe, Li and Xu met their eventual nanny via video, after which they agreed to have her obtain a work visa and take care of their 9-month old daughter for six months. Wagstaffe said that care turned into seven-day work weeks in which the nanny also was expected to do all of the housework.<\/p>\n

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Among the other accusations, according to Wagstaffe: The nanny had to hold the baby while the baby napped; Li and Xu did not allow the nanny to go outside without supervision and contstantly berated her; the couple demanded her passport; and they refused to pay her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe that the nanny who is the accuser was truthful with police,\u201d Morales said. \u201cShe got paid on time. There was one time at the very end, when police arrested our client that she didn\u2019t get her paycheck because our client was in jail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wagstaffe said that when the baby became sick on Aug. 14, 2024, Li became infuriated and held a kitchen knife to the victim\u2019s neck. Three days later, the baby went to Stanford Hospital, and Wagstaffe said the victim told hospital staff how she\u2019d been treated. The staff then contacted police, Wagstaffe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s made ridiculous statements, just absurd,\u201d Morales said. \u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to the jury trial.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The two sides next are in court on July 17 for a trial readiness conference and for jury assignment.<\/p>\n

Read more Walters: Voters in deep blue California are souring on ballot measures that add new taxes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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