Prosecuting Human Trafficking in Texas
by Shelley Kilpatrick, RAV Intern
Prosecuting Human Trafficking in Texas
Although the Federal law against human trafficking is fairly new, there have been many cases prosecuted here in the United States. There have also been some prosecuted right here in Texas. Here are some of those cases as described by the Polaris Project.
United States v. Mondragon, et al (Texas): Six of eight defendants have pleaded guilty in a conspiracy where women were trafficked into the United States from Honduras and El Salvador and forced to work in bars in Houston, Texas. The defendants threatened to harm the women and their families if they tried to escape or stop working in the bar. They also used the immigration courts to control the victims by telling the women to report to immigration authorities and then confiscating legal documents denying them access to the court, resulting in deportation orders they could hold over them. The women were charged smuggling fees ranging from $6,000 to $14,000, that were increased by extending credit to the women and girls for housing, food, clothing, transportation, and money sent home to their families. The women were expected to reduce their debts by keeping company with male bar patrons, and encouraging them to buy beer and liquor at high prices, and to submit to sexual contact with the patrons. Almost 90 victims have been identified and are receiving assistance.
United States v. Malcolm (Texas): Korean madam Mi Na Malcolm was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty for her role in the ownership and operation of three Korean brothels in Dallas, Texas. She was also ordered to pay a $460,000 fine. Malcolm, who laundered the proceeds from the prostitution, admitted that she paid the victims’ debts to human smugglers, took their passports, and told them they could not leave until they had paid off their debts to her. Malcolm then forced the victims to live and work at one of her three brothels in order to pay off their debts to her and for her own profit. Malcolm directed the victims to work as prostitutes for six to seven days a week and many were forced to be available for sex 24 hours a day. She monitored the victims’ movements in person, through an escort, and through a video surveillance system inside one of the brothels.
United States v. Salazar (Texas): Six defendants were charged with conspiring to traffic young Mexican women and girls into prostitution. The defendants allegedly lured young Mexican girls and women into the United States under false pretenses, then forced them into prostitution, using physical violence and threats to maintain strict control over them. Four of the six defendants have pled guilty to conspiring to commit sex trafficking. Trial for defendant Ivan Salazar is currently set for November 2006. The alleged ringleader, Gerardo Salazar, remains a fugitive.
For more information on cases in Texas and throughout the United States please visit the Polaris Projects’ website,
http://www.polarisproject.org/resources/resources-by-topic/human-trafficking
Korean Comfort woman arrested in crackdown on prostitution in Texas （Korea Export Prostitute）
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