Orlando Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking of Minors

TAMPA—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that Pria M. Gunn (20, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. Gunn faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, while working as a prostitute for Weylin O. Rodriguez, Gunn assisted Rodriguez by enforcing Rodriguez’s rules on the other prostitutes, many of whom were minors. Gunn assisted Rodriguez by posting prostitution ads of the victims on the Internet and by renting hotel rooms where prostitution activities occurred. Gunn often acted as the enforcer of the organization, by inflicting physical violence on the victims, to ensure that the girls who did not wish to prostitute themselves did not run away.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”

Another Lands in Federal Prison in Alien Harboring Case

HOUSTON—The last person to plead guilty in a 10-defendant indictment has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in an organization involved in the trafficking of Mexican females for compelled service at Houston area bars and restaurants through force, fraud, and coercion, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Javier Belmontes, 48, entered a guilty plea on March 19, 2012, for conspiring to harbor Mexican nationals.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes handed Belmontes a 48-month prison term, which will be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hughes also forfeited two bars, one restaurant, and several properties that the court found were used to facilitate these crimes. The government has requested the proceeds from these forfeitures be used to aid the victims in this case.

Belmontes was charged along with nine others in 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 February 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, aka “Nancy,” 47, 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. Belmontes owned, controlled and operated La Costenita and El Club Restaurante, while Jose Luis Rojas, 39, operated La Costenita. Seven others were charged in the indictment with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens. Maday Martinez, 35, and Evelin Carolina Aguera, 39, worked as managers, while Claudia Perez Ramirez, 28; Silvano Santos, aka “Chivas,” 33; Francisco Maradiaga Jimenez, aka “Pancho,” 35; and Olvan Ramirez Caceres, 27, worked at La Costenita as lookouts alerting police presence. The final defendant, Aleyda Juarez, 29, 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.

On November 28, 2011, Maria Rojas and Jose Luis Rojas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens as well as conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. They were later sentenced to 16 years for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in addition to 10 years for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, to run concurrently. Maria Rojas also pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation and received an additional 24 months to be served concurrently to her other sentences.

The investigation leading to the filing of criminal charges was the result of a three-year investigation conducted by members of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) in Houston, which includes the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Department of State, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Houston Police Department. The HTRA was formed by the United States Attorney’s Office in Houston as part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice to concentrate and combine resources of our own office’s civil rights and organized crime units as well as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those victimized by the traffickers. The Houston HTRA was one of the first of 42 such funded organizations and the first of its kind in Texas. The mission of the HTRA is to foster the collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies with area social service organizations to identify and assist the victims of human trafficking and to effectively identify, apprehend, and prosecute those engaged in trafficking offenses.

Assistant United States Attorneys Ruben R. Perez and Joe Magliolo prosecuted the case, while Katherine Haden handled the asset forfeiture matter.

Operation Cross Country VI

FBI, Partners Provide Compassion and Assistance to Child Victims

The FBI’s Operation Cross Country enforcement actions in recent years have highlighted the issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Contrary to what many people once thought, this is not just a problem involving young adults being moved from foreign countries into the U.S. It is a crisis that starts at home and can target any child of any social, economic, or racial background in our cities, suburbs, and rural areas.

At the heart of Operation Cross Country is a desire by the FBI’s employees and their partners on the Innocence Lost Task Forces to rescue these children from a life of violence and exploitation.

“There is no child—under any circumstance—who deserves to be sold for sex. Ever. My primary mission is to make sure that each child we recover is connected to supportive services that can address their emotional and physical well-being,” says Caroline Holmes, FBI Portland’s victim specialist. “They deserve the chance to be kids—to have dreams and aspirations and to be safe.”

The FBI’s Portland Division works with a host of social service providers to answer the need. Working together, they provide these children—and their families, when appropriate—with emergency assistance, counseling, health resources, and referrals to outside providers. Immediate life and safety needs come first with the end goal of providing the victim access to long-term resources to ensure long-term success.

Since the Operation Cross Country law enforcement actions began in 2009, the local social service providers in the Portland area have banded together in what is a model program for responding to the child victims of commercial sex exploitation. For instance, Multnomah County has set up a special unit within its Department of Human Services to address the issue. In addition, the county has generated a peer-to-peer sharing forum where advocates can collaborate and develop the most effective response tools.

Another example: the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) of Oregon is responding to the crisis with specially trained and dedicated advocates who work specifically with children who have been exploited. SARC advocates provide immediate intervention, affording confidential advocacy and case management to exploited boys and girls in the Portland metro area.

In 2011, Janus Youth Program opened the area’s first shelter, Athena’s House, specifically for commercially exploited children. Athena’s House is one of only a few shelters nationwide that works solely with this population.

“These are our kids,” says Victim Specialist Holmes. “They deserve our attention, our help, and our compassion. We do everything that we can for them.”

If you suspect that a child is being sexually exploited, please call your nearest FBI office or local law enforcement agency immediately.

Florida Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minors and Production of Child Pornography

WASHINGTON – James Mozie of Oakland Park, Fla., was sentenced today to life in prison on charges of sex trafficking of minors and production of child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami Field Office.

 Mozie, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas in the Southern District of Florida.  In addition to the life prison term, Mozie was sentenced to 10 years of supervised release.

 On Dec. 20, 2011, Mozie was found guilty of all 10 counts against him, including sex trafficking of minors, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and production of child pornography.   

 At trial, seven different victims, many minor runaways at the time they met Mozie, testified that they worked or were recruited to work as prostitutes at Mozie’s residence, which he advertised as “The Boom Boom Room.”  According to the trial evidence, The Boom Boom Room, also known as Lot 29, operated for more than one year as a house of prostitution.  Mozie advertised the business through the use of mass text messages to his contacts, letting people know about the activities taking place at the house each night.  When customers arrived, they paid a cover charge to the security guard working the front door.  The females, many of them minors, worked in the house dancing for tips and engaging in sexual activity with male customers for money.

 The seven victims, all minors when the offenses occurred, testified that when they first arrived at the residence, Mozie asked them to complete an application with information such as name, stage name, date of birth and the sexual acts they were willing to perform.  All of the minor victims testified that they provided their correct dates of birth to Mozie, who advised them not to tell customers that they were underage.  Several of the minor victims testified that before working as a prostitute for Mozie, he required them to have sex with him as part of their “orientation,” which he explained was his way of “testing the merchandise.”  They also testified that Mozie would take sexually explicit pictures of them, which he attached to the text messages advertising the brothel.

 Previously, co-defendant Laschell “Shelly” Harris pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.  Co-defendant Willie David Rice pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to four years in prison.

 The case was investigated by the FBI and the Broward County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office Minor Vice Task Force.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry Wallace and Corey Steinberg of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Thomas Franzinger of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Indictments Returned Against Operators of Omaha “Spas”

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced the federal grand jury for the District of Nebraska has returned two indictments charging four defendants in connection with the operation of various “spas” in Omaha. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

According to the indictments, all four defendants were involved in operating “spas” under various names at different locations in Omaha, all of which were, in fact, alleged fronts for prostitution. The spas were located at 3024 N. 93rd Street (variously known as Avant Gentleman’s Spa; Advantage Spa & Body Works; Ninety-Third Street Spa; and NTS Spa Ltd.); 620 and 622 South 72nd Street (Advantage Day Spa and OT Spa); and 3025 South 87th Street (It Works Spa), all in Omaha, Nebraska. The indictments allege, in substance, that the defendants conducted an interstate prostitution operation by using various facilities of interstate commerce to run their businesses and, in so doing, attracted clients from both Nebraska and other states.

William R. Knox is alleged during certain time periods to have operated a spa business himself or through managers. Knox is alleged during other time periods to have entered business sublease or purchase arrangements with others, under which the sublessor or purchaser paid Knox a weekly fee in exchange for the opportunity to operate the ongoing spa business on the premises.

Tammy L. Schuck is alleged to have operated a spa business under a sublease with Knox and to have thereafter opened and operated two other spas. Tabatha N. Ashburn is alleged to have managed and operated the spas. Christopher J. Tierney is alleged to have provided computer and electronic services for the spas, including setting up a website and creating a computerized record keeping system.

The specific charges in the indictments are the following:

William R. Knox, age 63, of Omaha, is charged in an eight count indictment. Count one charges a conspiracy during 1998 to April 2012 to violate Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(a), inducement to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct; and Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3)(1), use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering enterprises. The maximum possible penalty for the conspiracy count includes imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Count two charges the defendant with use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise on August 23, 2011. The maximum possible penalty includes imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Count three charges the defendant with inducement to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct on February 24, 2009. The maximum possible penalty for this count includes imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Count four charges the defendant with a money laundering conspiracy during March 2005 to January 2012. The maximum possible penalty includes imprisonment of 20 years, a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Counts five through eight charge money laundering offenses on particular dates during 2007 and 2011. The maximum possible penalty for each count includes imprisonment of 20 years, a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The indictment also includes criminal forfeiture allegations, seeking forfeiture of two vehicles and three bank accounts, as well as a money judgment equal to the value of property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained as a result of the offenses.

Tammy L. Schuck, age 41, of Omaha; Tabatha N. Ashburn, age 22, of Junction City, Kansas; and Christopher J. Tierney, age 31, of Omaha, are charged in a nine count indictment. Count one charges the defendants with a conspiracy during April 2008 to January 2012 to violate Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(a), inducement to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct; and Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3)(1), use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid of tacketeering rnterprises. The maximum possible penalty for the conspiracy count includes imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Counts two through four charge the defendants with use of facilities in interstate vommerce in aid of tacketeering enterprises on particular dates. The maximum possible penalty for each of these counts includes imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Counts five through seven charge the defendants with inducement to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct on particular dates. The maximum possible penalty for each count includes imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Count eight charges the defendants with a money laundering conspiracy during April 2008 to January 2012. The maximum possible penalty for this count includes imprisonment of 20 years, a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Count nine charges Tammy L. Schuck with money laundering on June 24, 2010. The maximum possible penalty for this count includes imprisonment of 20 years, a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The indictment also includes criminal forfeiture allegations, seeking a money judgment equal to the value of property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained as a result of the offenses.

The indictments resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Omaha Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Division.