LEWISTOWN, PA – The owners of a Lewistown car detailing business have been accused of using forced child labor to run their business. This week, the wife of the now deceased owner was arrested.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of Ellen Cummings in connection to labor trafficking in Mifflin County. Cummings ran Tip Top Resources/Go2Detailing, a car detailing business, with her boyfriend, Scott Mogel, who died in 2020.
“The investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Office of Attorney General revealed that Cummings and Mogel allegedly forced minors, including foster children in their care, to work at their business without compensation,” the state alleges.
“The details of this case are disturbing. These individuals took advantage of vulnerable young people, some of which were under their care as foster parents, for the profit of their business,” said AG Shapiro. “Our office is committed to holding individuals accountable who take advantage of children. We are grateful for our partnership with local law enforcement and the Pennsylvania State Police for helping make this possible.”
The incident was referred to police by the victim’s family, which led to the investigation.
According to police, in 2020 when a victim’s family learned of the alleged abuse and contacted the Lewistown Borough Police Department.
“Cummings and Mogel forced their victims, who were all minors, to work at Tip Top Resources/Go2Detailing, washing and detailing cars and performing clerical duties, without compensation. Victims slept on air mattresses at the business in the same room as Mogel, Cummings and Cummings’ children, and food was kept in a locked refrigerator only to be eaten at designated mealtimes,” the state charges.
“The Pennsylvania State Police is proud of the work of our investigators and interagency cooperation shown here with this arrest,” said Pennsylvania State Police Captain James Cuttitta, Director of the Special Investigations Division in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. “Labor trafficking is a form of modern day slavery, and we hope this arrest brings some justice for the victims involved.”
On August 31, law enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania State Police arrested Cummings and charged her with Involuntary Servitude, Criminal Conspiracy, Unlawful Restraint, False Imprisonment of a Minor, Trafficking in Individuals, and Nonpayment of Wages.