Posted on 11/20/2005 9:19:45 AM PST by Calpernia
EIGHT SALVADORANS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT SEX TRAFFICKING
Dozens of Central and South American females forced to work as “bargirls”
HOUSTON, Texas — United States Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and Assistant Attorney General Wan Kim, Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, today announced the unsealing of criminal charges against eight persons for their roles in an organization allegedly involved in the sex trafficking of Central and South American females for Houston area bars and restaurants through force, fraud and coercion.
The federal criminal complaint, filed under seal on Sun. Nov. 13, alleges that the eight defendants, who are El Salvadoran nationals or U.S. Citizens of Salvadoran heritage, were part of an organization responsible for enticing and then smuggling young women, including minors, from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras into the United States through the Texas-Mexico border to work at their businesses to pay off their smuggling fees ranging from $8,000 to $13,000. Instead of the good jobs they were promised, the women were made to work as "bargirls," sitting and dancing with customers and selling overpriced drinks to the men. The bars in question employed as many as 30 women in such a capacity at any given time.
According to the complaint, one young woman reported earning between $500 to $600 a week selling drinks to male customers, but after paying assessments for a debt that incorporated alien smuggling fees, food, housing, clothing, and other miscellaneous items, she received approximately $50 each week. In addition to this almost insurmountable debt, the complaint further alleges that the young women were maintained in service to the defendants by threats of violence and threats against their families. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that, as part of their compelled service, the defendants required the woman and girls to submit to the sexual demands of the defendants, bar patrons, or close associates of the defendants.
Late last evening, armed with warrants, investigating agents arrested Maximino MONDRAGON, also known as "Chimino", 57, the owner of El Potrero de Chimino Bar, located on the 12000 block of Hempstead Highway and the adjoining restaurant La Margarita; Victor Omar LOPEZ, 38, operator of the Mi Cabana Bar located on the 8100 block of West Tidwell Road; Oscar MONDRAGON, 47, operator of the Mi Cabana Sports Bar located on the 8100 block of West Tidwell Road; Walter Alexander COREA, 39, the owner and operator of the El Cuco Restaurant located on the 8100 block of West Tidwell Road, adjoining the Mi Cabana bar; Kerin Josue SILVA, 19, son of Walter Corea; Olga MONDRAGON, 45, wife of Oscar and operator of the El Huetamo Nite Club (also known as the La Leona Club) located on the 1800 block of Ojeman Road, Maria FUENTES, 35, and Lorenza Reynosa, also known as "COMADRE", age unknown.
With the exception of "La Comadre," who will appear in federal court tomorrow, the remaining seven defendants appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The United States has sought the continued detention of each defendant without bond pending further criminal proceedings. A detention hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.
All eight defendants are charged with conspiring to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide and obtain by any means young Central and South American women and girls, and benefit, financially and by receiving a thing of value, from participation in a venture that engaged in such acts, knowing that force, fraud and coercion, would be used to cause these women and girls to engage in commercial sex acts. A charge of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.
During the course of the last evening's law enforcement action, approximately 100 women from Central and South America were taken into ICE custody on various immigration related issues. The investigation continues.
The criminal charges are the result of a year- long investigation conducted by members of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) in Houston, Texas, which includes the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission (TABC), with the assistance of the Constables Offices of Precincts One and Five, and the U. S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant United States Attorneys Ruben R. Perez and Joe Magliolo and Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Trial Attorneys Lou de Baca and James Felte will prosecute the case.
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Hard to imagine. My neighborhood is over-run with central americans and they sure as heck don't look like the chicks on Sabado Gigante. I wouldn't touch 'em with my worst enemy's hand. But I guess if you look like the son of a mule, you might be attracted to a girl who shares your disfigurement.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
There are tons of these bars here. There were two down the street from my house in the heights. I didn't realize the girls were being held against their will. The police should check these places out. One is called the peppermint lounge. The police are always responding to fights and stabbings there. There was a murder there a few years ago...probably a few since then I haven't heard about as I don't live around there any more.
Thanks for posting that. I pinged Swinney and Hijinx. They have people on their ping lists that will probably take note of that.
Slavers Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
This wretched nation is number two after Mexico in sending us illegal aliens. 25% of Salvadorans live in the USA with the LA area being host to at least one million.
Thanks for nothing Bill and George!!!
Lots of folks called in and complained that while they didn't want anyone treated like these people were, they were here illegally and should not be rewarded.
The amnesty program is for the illegals that were brought here against their will and held in slavery.
The left likes to promote the amnesty program as anti Bush propaganda.
I support the human trafficking victims getting green cards.
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