Sunday, September 6, 2009


Mother, son accused of holding illegal immigrant captive


Published: September 5, 2009


A mother and son team is accused of holding a man smuggled into the United States captive, the FBI said.

According to a news release, a 30-year-old man from Guatemala was illegally smuggled into Bradenton on Wednesday, but when a relative could not pay an unexpected "transportation fee," the Guatemalan was taken captive.

The captors demanded payment before releasing the man, the report said.

The family contacted law enforcement, and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, the Bradenton office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Miami FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and the FBI Southwest Florida Violent Crimes Task Force participated in a joint investigation, the FBI said.

Saturday, Erisbel Artiles, 31, and his mother, Lazara Moreira Penin, 53, both of Miami, were arrested. Penin was taken into custody in Bradenton, and Artiles was arrested at their home at 3135 Village Green Drive in Miami.

Penin is being held at the Manatee County Jail, and Artiles is incarcerated in Miami. They are suspected of being associated with a human trafficking organization, the report says.

The Southwest Florida Violent Crimes Task Force consists of the Bradenton Police Department, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Sarasota FBI Office.


http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/05 ... -breaking/