Multiple Indictments Issued in Nationwide Prostitution Investigation

Defendants Operated a Multi-State Hispanic Brothel and Prostitution Network Involving Illegal Aliens; Hispanic Brothel Operated in Louisville, Kentucky; Two Arrested in Kentucky on Tennessee Indictment for Interstate Prostitution

LOUISVILLE, KY—A multi-state investigation into human trafficking has resulted in the indictment of nine defendants on charges of conspiracy to transport prostitutes in interstate commerce, conspiracy to induce interstate travel for prostitution, conspiracy to operate brothels with illegal aliens, and conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. The arrests and indictments are part of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky and other offices across the nation to combat human trafficking and illegal prostitution networks.

Two of the nine defendants, Obdulio C. Morales and Esthela Silfa Vasquez, made initial appearances May 4, 2011, in United States District Court, Louisville, Kentucky before Magistrate Judge James D. Moyer, for their part in the 13-count federal indictment filed in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Two federal arrest warrants were executed that morning by the FBI along with the Louisville Metro Police Department, Jeffersontown Police, Jefferson County’s Sheriff’s Office, and Shelbyville Police Department and resulted in the arrests of Morales and Silfa at 9910 Merioneth Drive, Louisville, Kentucky. The remaining defendants were indicted by federal grand juries May 3, 2011, in Knoxville, Tennessee and Indianapolis, Indiana.

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 State of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The indictment alleges that the defendants operated a brothel at 9910 Merioneth Drive, Louisville, Kentucky and a prostitution delivery service from 5514 Riata Court in Louisville, Kentucky.

The indictment further alleges that the defendants recruited Spanish-speaking women who illegally entered the United States and engaged them to become prostitutes. 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 Knoxville, Morristown, Johnson City, Bristol, Kingsport, and Goodlettsville, Tennessee; and Louisville, Kentucky. The prostitutes worked Monday through Saturday and were forced to travel between cities on Sundays. 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.

Other defendants charged include 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 removal from the United States.

This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Hamblen County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office; Louisville Metro Police Department; Jeffersontown, Kentucky Police; Jefferson County, Kentucky Sheriff’s Office; and Shelbyville, Kentucky Police Department.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.