Posted on 06/25/2007 4:39:02 PM PDT by csvset
The sentencing today of an illegal immigrant caught up in an Eastern Shore prostitution ring turned into a debate on immigration policy.
Javier Merino-Torres of Mexico was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison despite a plea for leniency from his attorney, who cited the employment and social needs fulfilled by his client and others like him.
“He works here because there is no work at home,” the attorney, David Bouchard of Chesapeake, told the judge.
“What I’m suggesting is that we have created a monster because our economy depends on these people,” Bouchard said.
He suggested that the judge deviate from sentencing guidelines so his client can return home to his family as soon as possible.
U.S. District Judge Walter D. Kelley Jr. said he is bound by the laws passed by Congress to sentence Merino-Torres to a mandatory two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and an additional 21 months for transporting prostitutes.
“Mr. Bouchard has made a very eloquent argument about our immigration system,” Kelley said.
“Unfortunately, as a judge, I can’t be involved in what proper policy should be. I have to apply the law.”
Merino-Torres was charged with six other men in a prostitution conspiracy based in rural Mappsville, Accomack County, on the Eastern Shore. The men brought women in from New York and New Jersey to work in a dilapidated house where customers paid $30 for 15-minute sessions.
Prosecutors said at least six women were involved at the Mappsville site and at other locations on the Eastern Shore and in Maryland. Court papers say that among the evidence discovered was a book containing ratings of the prostitutes, using descriptions such as “good,” “bad,” or “fat.”
Five of the six men have been arrested, convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 21 to 55 months. A sixth suspect remains at large. All were in the country illegally.
Bouchard told the judge that his client had been in the country illegally for many years, working farm fields up and down the East Coast. He entered the country by purchasing a phony Social Security card for $100, Bouchard said.
He said Merino-Torres got involved with the prostitution ring to provide “a great benefit to the men who live away from their families.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore told the judge to consider the two types of illegal immigrants: those who come here simply to work and return home and those, such as Merino-Torres, who come here to work and commit crimes.
Even after most of his co-defendants were arrested in May 2006, Merino-Torres continued working the sex trade. He was arrested in January at another brothel in Salisbury, Maryland.
“There was actually no slowdown with respect to his activities in this business,” Moore said.
Merino-Torres will serve his prison term and then be processed for deportation.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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This house in Mappsville was used as a brothel, where customers paid $30 for 15-minute sessions with women brought from out of state. L. TODD SPENCER | THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
“He works here because there is no work at home,” the attorney, David Bouchard of Chesapeake, told the judge. “What I’m suggesting is that we have created a monster because our economy depends on these people,” Bouchard said. Bouchard has been sipping some of President Bush's, " We need these people " Kool-Aid.
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They are only doing the work that Americans don’t want to do!
I shiver when I think of the customers at the health department.
That’s alright. During the next president’s term, we’ll have much more “legal” immigration and “legal” prostitution. Just keep on listening to his rhetoric. And don’t post his record, or you’ll be flamed.
Give the man an award! He's a humanitarian!......ugh....
Besides, it’s something that US citizens displaced by third-worlders can do.
Talk about a lawyer with absolutely no sense of shame. I could see trying this argument if the guy was an actual farm worker and he was being charged with some misdemeanor. But to claim in so many words that the guy was just "pimpin' tha hos 'Mericans wouldn't"...unbelievable.
Day laborers need an outlet for their sexual frustrations other than sneering profanities at anything wearing a skirt (regardless of age).
He said Merino-Torres got involved with the prostitution ring to provide “a great benefit to the men who live away from their families.”
Come on, the guy is a humanitarian. Give him a Z visa or refugee status or something but he must stay! gag
How 'bout we stretch real hard and do these tasks concurrently so the day his sentence is up he can be immediately deported.
Prediction: if that is done, he'll be back in the US within three months.
You may be saying, "No he won't 'cause by then we'll have the fence." No we won't. Whatchu smokin'?
Poor undocumented bank robbers..........
FYI
Just for starters...
Are there no prostitutes in Mexico? He can't make a living this career back home?
Not to mention the excuse of the need of men away from home...they could go back home.
Then there is his stupid lawyer and his lame defense points.
It sounds like the judge was sympathetic to him, but at least he's got good enough sense to "follow the law"
Pimpin Ain’t easy - that’s why we have illegal aliens do it for us!
How 'bout we stretch real hard and do these tasks concurrently so the day his sentence is up he can be immediately deported.
How about we save some money and skip the prison term, just deport immediately
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
This House (and Senate) in DC is also used as a brothel, although the price paid is considerably more than $30 for 15 minutes.
I’m there tonight; just realized that some societies must
not be allowed to immigrate. Example: ones that use a
Mickey Mouse likeness to teach children suicide bombing.
If we hurry and deport him tonight, he might be walking free back in the US before Paris Hilton is tomorrow.
The troubling part of the article is the judge’s apparent sympathy with the victim, errrr, defendant’s circumstance. Thus, the judge states:
“Mr. Bouchard has made a very eloquent argument about our immigration system,” Kelley said.
“Unfortunately, as a judge, I can’t be involved in what proper policy should be. I have to apply the law.”
“Unfortunately”???? This guy’s job is ONLY to apply the law. He sounds disappointed that he doesn’t get to set “proper policy” which apparently from his expressed sentiment may include allowing illegal immigrants to operate a wholesome business like a whore house without any criminal consequences.
After all, his conduct is only the result of the “monster” that we created, right?
Please tell me he is a democratic appointee and not a republican.
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