Sex TraffickingArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking in San Jose, California (2006)

A sex trafficking case from 2006 in San Jose, California, 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

Local law enforcement in San Mateo, FBI, ICE, and the IRS were all involved in this case. The investigation began when someone tried to bribe a San Mateo police officer in connection with a pimping charge. The investigation found that 24-99 women were brought to the United States, where they were employed as prostitutes. The women were rotated on a circuit from San Mateo, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale.

Response and intervention

Twelve women were material witnesses, and most other women involved were returned to their countries of origin in Asia. Twelve women were witnesses, and most were returned to their country of origin. It is unknown if they received any type of aftercare services.

Nearby cases

All 892 in the United States →

Bonded Labor2009

Buena Vista, California, United States, 2009

United States US

A Mexican couple named Paula Luna Alvarez and Carlos Contreras Del Carmen, wealthy restaurant owners in San Jose, CA, allegedly brought in approximately 30 Mexicans over an undisclosed period of time. Mr. del Carmen recruited Mexicans, promising them $500/week to come and work in the United States, but when they arrived, they were forced to live in squalid conditions in the families' garage. They were forced to sell food on the street or work in the restaurants, and were ordered to avoid speaking to anyone and to avoid eye contact. The restaurants also have been a front for money laundering, with thousands of dollars passing through them to Mexico, though little of it ended up with the families of the victims.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

CSEC2002

Cambrian Park, California, United States, 2002

United States US

A 15 year old girl was recruted by male pimps to enter the Santa Clara Children's Shelter to befriend girls in the shclter. She then convinced three other girls as young as 13 to run away with her to become prostitutes in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2009

Santa Clara County, United States, 2009

United States US

Timothy Richardson and Robert Hendricks pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to two counts of human trafficking. Under the plea bargain, Richardson will be sentenced to six years and four months in state prison, and Hendricks will be sentenced to three years. Richardson's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ross McMahon, declined to comment. Hendricks' attorney, Eben Kurtzman, could not be reached for comment. Sentencing will occur on Aug. 28. The Santa Clara Police Department, the FBI, and Santa Clara County prosecutors worked together on this case. The traffickers were charged under state law, which is unique as typically these cases are tried under federal law rather than state law (enacted in California 3 years previously).

2 sourcesArchive 2008–2016