Austin, Texas, United States
Maricela Uresti-Martinez and Violeta Juanita De Hoyos-Hernandez recruited and trafficked the victims (minors from Mexico) to come to the U.S. from November 2002 to May 2003. Uresti-Martinez recruited the women, saying that they could come to the U.S. and would work for a short time in her restaurant to repay their $1500 smuggling fee. After reaching Austin, the victims were held against their will, and forced to engage in prostitution to repay their fee. They were threatened to be killed if they did not do as they were told.
Location
United States · Austin, Texas · 2008 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
Maricela Martinez-Uresti was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison. On October 10, 2003 she pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of children, transportation of minors for sexual activity, conspiracy to smuggle, transport, and harbor illegal aliens, and importation of aliens for immoral purposes. Violeta Juanita De Hoyos-Hernandez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle, transport, and harbor illegal aliens for profit.
The two women were arrested by the Austin Police Department on May 14, 2003. ICE was involved in the investigation after the arrest.
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.