Indictments Issued In Nationwide Prostitution Investigation (WLKY-KY)

Indictments Issued In Nationwide Prostitution Investigation
Officials: Defendants Operated Multi-State Hispanic Brothel, Prostitution Network

POSTED: 2:00 pm EDT May 10, 2011

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The United States Attorney for the district of Western Kentucky announced Tuesday that a multi-state investigation into human trafficking has resulted in indictments for nine people on various prostitution charges.

According to court records, the defendants conspired to create and operate a network of brothels and prostitution delivery services using illegal aliens from Spanish-speaking countries in the Tennessee and Kentucky.

The indictment alleges that the defendants operated a brothel in the 9900 block of Merioneth Drive and a prostitution delivery service from the 5500 block of Riata Court, both in Louisville.

The defendants recruited Spanish-speaking women who illegally entered the United States and engaged them to become prostitutes, according to the indictments.

The defendants caused these prostitutes to travel in interstate commerce from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina, during a four-year period, and work in brothels and prostitution delivery services in Louisville and in several towns in Tennessee, according to court records.

The prostitutes worked Monday through Saturday and were forced to travel between cities on Sundays according to court records.

The indictment further alleges that the prostitutes were expected to engage in sexual intercourse with 30 customers per day, were required to work 50 weeks per year and lived nomadic lives, traveling from one city to another.

The charged defendants include Obdulio C. Morales, Esthela Silfa Vasquez, Areli (true name unknown), Eusebio Flores Martinez, Rosa Garcia Menendez, Rubio Trinidad Narciso, Elda Dorali Moreno Ramirez, Raymundo Sanchez-Torres and Freddy Lopez Torres.

If convicted of the prostitution charges, the defendants face a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years supervised release. If convicted of the immigration charges, the defendants face a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release. If convicted of any charges, the alien defendants face deportation.