Sex TraffickingArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking in Houston, Texas (2011)

A sex trafficking case from 2011 in Houston, Texas, United States.

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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?

What happened

30-year-old Jerald Bland, aka “Moe Betta,” was charged by a federal grand jury with sex trafficking of two minors and one adult, as well as transporting one adult and one minor for the purposes of prostitution, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced on October 2, 2011 The five-count indictment returned by the grand jury today, alleges that beginning in March 2010 through June 2010, Bland used force, fraud, or coercion to cause two minors and one adult female to engage in commercial sex acts. Bland is also accused of transporting one minor and one adult female from Texas to Louisiana to engage in prostitution in violation of federal statutes.

Response and intervention

See above. The United States has sought a court order to transfer Bland from state custody into federal custody to face the charges and appear for arraignment on a date to be set by the court. Each of the three counts accusing Bland of sex trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 upon conviction. No aftercare was reported.

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Sex Trafficking2011

Houston, Texas, United States, 2011

United States US

Maria Rojas aka “Nancy” and Jose Luis Rojas entered their pleas to both conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens as well as the sex trafficking conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes on November 28, 2011. The two were charged with a conspiracy involving the recruitment of Mexican women and girls to travel to the United States with the false expectation of legitimate jobs in bars and restaurants. The indictment, returned Feb. 15, 2011, alleged that the conspirators further relied on the services of pimps to supply the women for use as prostitutes to maintain control of the women. Maria Rojas, 46, was the owner of La Costenita, formerly Playa Sola, as well as El Club Restaurante, formerly La Cueva Restaurante Bar, both located on Clinton Drive in Houston. Jose Luis Rojas, 38, operated La Costenita. Eight others were also charged in the indictment with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens. Javier Guevara Belmontes, 46, also owned, controlled and operated La Costenita and El Club Restaurante. Maday Martinez, 34, and Evelin Carolina Aguera, 37, worked as managers, while Claudia Perez Ramirez, Silvano Santos aka “Chivas,” Francisco Maradiaga Jimenez aka “Pancho,” and Olvan Ramirez Caceres worked at La Costenita as lookouts alerting police presence. The final defendant, Aleyda Juarez, passed out condoms and charged the females $15 for the condom as well as use of the rooms. Aguera, Santos, Perez Ramirez, Maradiaga Jimenez, Ramirez Caceres and Juarez have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. Their sentences for their roles in conspiracy to harboring illegal aliens has ranged from eight to 11 months and all will be deported upon completion of their sentences. Martinez has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendant, Belmontes, is scheduled for trial Feb. 27, 2012..

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2001

Houston, Texas, United States, 2001

United States US

Jermaine Carlos Diaz, 23, trafficked young girls from his hometown of Fort Smith,AR to Houston, TX for the purpose of prostitution.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2024

Houston, Texas, United States, 2024

United States

Three individuals held immigrant women against their will at a Houston residence, forcing labor while also running a pirated CD/DVD distribution operation from the same property. Accused: Estela Aguilar-Lopez, Blanca Estela Lopez-Aguilar, and Francisco Ivan Rodriguez-Garcia.

1 source