Sex Trafficking2011
United States US
Jose Antonio Reyes-Maradiaga, a 28-year-old El Salvadoran national, residing in Annapolis, Maryland, pleaded guilty on November 1, 2011 to transporting individuals to engage in prostitution in Annapolis and Easton, Md. According to Jose Antonio Reyes-Maradiaga's plea agreement, he assisted a codefendant who operated prostitutions near Annapolis and Easton, Md. On numerous occasions between June and November 2010, he was observed operating or riding in vehicles used to transport prostitutes between the brothels. Reyes-Maradiaga used cell phones to support the prostitution business. On June 28, 2010, police stopped the vehicle Reyes-Maradiaga was operating. He was transported to the police station for processing due to driving without a license. Law enforcement searched his property which resulted in the recovery of two picture identification cards – one from El Salvador in the name of Jose Antonio Reyes-Maradiago and a Mexican license in the name of Luis Alberto Reyes – and a store receipt dated that same day for paper towels, condoms and other supplies for the brothel. Law enforcement also recovered $723.76 in cash and two cell phones containing the phone number for the Annapolis brothel.
Domestic Servitude2011
United States US
According to a recent federal indictment, Alfred Edwards, 73, and Gloria Edwards, 60, both of Upper Marlboro, Md.,forced a Filipina woman to work for them, threatening and assaulting her. The couple enticed the victim to come to the United States to work as their domestic servant, according to the five-count indictment. The woman was an impoverished, uneducated, mother of eight, officials stated. The defendants promised her a salary that would support her children in the Philippines. According to the indictment, the defendants gained a false visa for the woman, and confiscated her documents after she arrived. They forced her to work for 13 hours a day for ten years, using a scheme of threats, assaults, withholding of documents, withholding of pay, and a peonage contract to coerce the victim’s continued service.
CSEC2009
United States US
Corey was charged with human trafficking Feb. 24th 2009 in Baltimore County District Court. April 27th he was also charged with two counts of human trafficking, one count of operating a prostitution business and numerous drug charges. Police conducted the raid on the Millersville apartment, and arrested Johnson but he was released in August 2009. He continued to distribute drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy) and N-Benzylpiperazine (BZP) until his federal arrest in September 2009. On September 24th 2009, an indictment alleged that Corey conspired with the three other men to run a prostitution business in his former Millersville, MD apartment. All defendants face 5 years in prison for prostitution conspiracy, 20 years for enticement, 20 years for conspiracy to distribute ecstasy and BZP. Corey, Harris and Johnson face life in prison for sex trafficking by force. Corey faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years in prison for distribution of child pornography and 20 years in prison for distribution of BZP. Richard Johnson pleaded guilty Dec. 3rd 2009. He admitted in a plea agreement to enticing girls and successfully recruiting two and sharing in the earnings. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 12th 2010 at 10:00am. The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, ICE, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Ohio police, and the US Army Criminal Investigation Command were involved in the case. The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force includes federal, state, and local law enforcement plus victim service providers and community services.