Illegals nabbed in prostitution ring
By Amanda Kerr | The Virginia Gazette
November 26, 2008
JAMES CITY - Five illegal immigrants were arrested Friday night in connection with a prostitution ring at a home on Richmond Road, just south of Lightfoot.
The raid took place just after 7 p.m., when the James City Police SWAT team executed a search warrant at 6115 Richmond Rd., in front of the Villages at Westminster subdivision.
Mike Spearman of the James City Police said among the items found at the home was a “large variety of condoms” and “pornographic movies being played in a waiting area.”
Spearman said the investigation of the home was led by the Tri-Rivers Drug Task Force with assistance by James City Police, State Police, Immigration & Customs Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Records and witnesses will indicate that the house was a part of a prostitution ring which resulted in girls being brought to the house to work as prostitutes,” Spearman said in a press release. “Girls were likely brought from across state lines to work in this ring.”
Two of those arrested were alleged prostitutes and three were alleged pimps.
* Marta Julia Martinez-Aquino, 33, charged with prostitution.
* Ana Maria Rosales-Gonzales, 25, charged with prostitution. She also goes by the name Flora Marisol-Rosales.
* Marco Tulio Lara-Galvez, 55, charged with receiving money for procuring a person for prostitution and conspiracy to commit a felony.
* Felipe Vargas-Ortega, 42, charged with receiving money for procuring a person for prostitution, keeping a bawdy place, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
* Emma Tlacoxolal-Perez, 36, charged with receiving money for procuring a person for prostitution, keeping a bawdy place and conspiracy to commit a felony.
No clients were arrested. Any Johns would have been charged with frequenting a bawdy place.
Spearman said Vargas-Ortega and Tlacoxolal-Perez are believed to be involved with the operation of a local prostitution ring. Vargas-Ortega and Tlacoxolal-Perez are also believed to be linked to a prostitution operation in Newport News.
About two hours after the home on Richmond Road was searched, Newport News Police raided a home near Denbigh where 12 people were charged with various prostitution-related offenses.
“Both operations are believed to be run by the same person or persons,” Spearman said. It is unclear if Vargas-Ortega and Tlacoxolal-Perez were running both houses.
Spearman said all five arrested here were immigrants from El Salvador and were in the country illegally. Many of the people arrested in Newport News were from Mexico or Ecuador.
All of the suspects have been jailed without bond.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Illegals nabbed in prostitution ring (Virginia Gazette)
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1 comment:
I think it's disgusting that people who are the victims/survivors of human trafficking are brought into the country under false pretenses, their labor is exploited, and they are held against their will, and then they are criminalized, charged with prostitution. Victims of human trafficking have RIGHTS under international law and are entitled to protection and the chance for asylum. These unfortunate women are probably getting sent straight to deportation proceedings. Won't anyone stand up for their rights?
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