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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
Maritzana Diaz Lopez, Pedro Burgos, Angel Ruiz, Librada Jimenez-Calderon, Antonia Jimenez-Calderon, and Sergio Farfan all played a part in recruiting young girls (ages 14-18) from Mexico to come to the U.S. under false promises, and then forcing them to work in the sex industry. The victims were held in a brothel in Plainfield, New Jersey, where they then worked seven days a week performing sex acts. They performed six to eight sex acts a day, for approximately $35 each. The victims were subject to physical violence, as well as verbal threats.
Response and intervention
Maritzana Diaz Lopez was sentenced to 27 months in prison, and five years of supervised release (she had previously pleaded guilty to sex trafficking). Pedro Burgos was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Angel Ruiz was sentenced to 44 months, and Librada Jimenez Calderon and Antonia Jimenez-Calderon were each sentenced to 210 months in prison. Sergio Farfan was also sentenced to 16 months in prison. All were ordered to pay the victims a total of $135,240. Police raided two houses when they were suspected to be used as brothels. The victims were originally arrested under prostitution charges, but investigation revealed they were trafficking victims. The victims were placed in the state’s child welfare agency’s custody, and are receiving help from the Federal Office of Refugee Assistance.