Immigrants Were Allegedly Forced Into Prostitution

A federal grand jury indicted four people Thursday on charges that they smuggled undocumented Mexican women into the United States and forced them to work as prostitutes at a Los Angeles brothel.

Investigators said that at least 12 females, including two girls ages 14 and 15, were forced to sell sexual services as a way of paying off the debts they owed for being smuggled into the United States.

The officials said they hoped that cracking this case would send a message that such criminality would not be tolerated.

“It’s significant because it lets the public know that we are out covering these kinds of cases and that these types of activities are going on in their neighborhood, and they should call us when they know this type of activity is going on,” said Kevin Jeffery, the associate special agent-in-charge for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Los Angeles.

Among those charged in the indictment was Jenny Valle-Maldonado, 26, a Mexican national who investigators said served as the brothel’s madam.

Her accomplices, authorities alleged, were Javier Sandoval-Garcia and Jose Velasquez-Garcia, both 28, and Juan Gregario Martinez-Vasquez, 37.

The defendants were indicted on a combination of charges, including importing immigrants into the United States for prostitution, immigrant smuggling and transporting illegal immigrants.

According to the indictment, unidentified co-conspirators recruited the young women in Mexico, and Valle-Maldonado and Sandoval-Garcia helped arrange for them to be smuggled across the border.

Jeffery said preliminary investigations indicated that some of the women knew they would be required to work as prostitutes in America but that others did not.

In exchange for passage to the U.S., the women were made to engage in prostitution at the brothel and at Southland massage parlors, typically for five to six months, authorities alleged.

It was unclear how much they were paid for their services, or if any other women had managed to pay off their debts, Jeffery said.

Most of the women never received any cash in hand. Valle-Maldonado controlled the prostitution proceeds, officials said.

There was never a chance to escape, agents said.

According to the indictment, Valle-Maldonado admonished those who refused to perform certain sex acts.

The brothel, in the 300 block of East 84th Place in South-Central Los Angeles, was uncovered following a tip, officials said.

When investigators raided the site March 9, they found such evidence as ledgers of prostitution transactions, lingerie, costumes and contraceptives.

Records showed that about 200 men had visited the establishment at least since mid-December, Jeffery said.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

“Prosecution of human trafficking is a priority for the U.S. attorney’s office and the Department of Justice, particularly in a case such as this where the victims are being exploited and there are minors involved,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Caroline Wittcoff.

“We are determined and committed to prosecute those who exploit these women, to the fullest extent possible,” she added.