Thread: Greenville-Madam, 5 Others Accused Of Importing Prostitutes

'Madam,' 5 Others Accused Of Importing Prostitutes

POSTED: 2:43 pm EDT September 12, 2007
UPDATED: 5:10 pm EDT September 12, 2007

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Six people are under arrest, accused of importing women from other countries and then keeping them employed as prostitutes.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins said that Maria Latrado, the alleged 'madam,' German Garcia, Fricman Ramirez, Carlos Castillo-Rodriguez, Aztlan Jaimes-Santana and Rolando Hernandez-Hernandez, were arrested.

Wilkins said, "We believe it's a large-scale prostitution ring where women were trafficked in from other states. Well, initially they'd be trafficked in through Mexico and then trafficked in from other states -- and would only stay in Greenville County for 8 to 10 days. They would then be transported to another location to continue the enterprise."

Investigators said that Maria Latradoand German Garcia are considered illegal aliens.

Greenville County sheriff's investigators and the FBI said that the six women were being used in a prostitution operation at a house on Dorsey Boulevard in West Greenville.

Investigators believe the operation was linked to previous prostitution activity at a house down the street that happened two years ago.

A neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said, "There'd be a lot of traffic going through there, almost like a drive-through at Burger King."

Investigators said the women are illegal immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador. Investigators said that they believe that as many as 100 women have been brought in through Columbia and Charleston, as well as Georgia and North Carolina, over the past two years.

The affidavit indicated that the prostitution operation has been working in the area at several locations including Dorsey Boulevard for more than a year.

Investigators said that they consider the arrests part of a major interstate operation.

The six women, ages 18 to 24, have been released, but will wear electronic monitoring devices. They are being held as material witnesses and will be housed in women's shelters while the case is prosecuted. They all face deportation.

Sex trafficking carries a sentence of up to life in prison. Since 2001, the Justice Department has charged more than 430 with human trafficking and secured convictions for 316 defendants.

http://www.wyff4.com/news/14099436/detail.html

Wilkins said, "We believe it's a large-scale prostitution ring where women were trafficked in from other states. Well, initially they'd be trafficked in through Mexico and then trafficked in from other states -- and would only stay in Greenville County for 8 to 10 days. They would then be transported to another location to continue the enterprise."

All together now: Doing work American's won't do.