7 Charged in Sex-Trafficking Ring

USA

7 charged in sex-trafficking ring

Orlando Sentinel

7 charged in sex-trafficking ring

The group operated 'under the radar' by targeting migrants, officials say. Dozens of other people were arrested on immigration charges.

Amy L. Edwards | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 23, 2005

DAVENPORT -- The inconspicuous mobile home on Powerline Road doesn't seem inviting -- given its fenced yard, gated driveway with "no trespassing" signs and overgrown landscaping.
But federal law-enforcement officials said the Davenport home has been a hot spot for Central Florida's migrant farmworkers looking for a good time.
That's because a brothel has been operating out of the house, the U.S. Attorney's Office recently said.
Seven Central Florida residents accused of operating that brothel were arrested last week on charges of conspiracy to transport individuals for sexual activity: Francisco Mariano-Cepeda, 43, of Kissimmee; Maritza Trochez, 28, of Kissimmee; Jose Rodriguez, 56, of Plant City; Mario Castillo, 55, of Auburndale; Crusita Cabrera de Falero, 44, of Kissimmee; Wesilandy Ceballos, 35, of Orlando; and Rudi Cabrera, 36, of Orlando, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Dozens of other people were arrested on immigration charges in the roundup, including clients and prostitutes.
The brothel was an active operation that serviced predominantly Mexican farmworkers, said Pam McCullough, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The sex-trafficking ring is also suspected of operating brothels in Hillsborough and Orange counties since 2000, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to the federal indictment, the ring is accused of hiring prostitutes and then negotiating terms, dates and conditions with them. The ring operators also established fees with the prostitutes and arranged for the proceeds to be divided among themselves.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said $32,000 in cash, jewelry, a 2000 Jaguar and 2003 Mercedes-Benz were seized from the accused.
Law-enforcement officials said brothels are not uncommon in migrant farmworking communities, but arrests for such activity are infrequent.
"Really, they are probably not that rare," said PolkCounty sheriff's Chief W.J. Martin. "They pretty much fly under the radar because the clientele are all the illegal immigrants."
Because many of the people living in the migrant areas are illegal residents, they are reluctant to report crime or ask for help from police, Martin said.
Last year in Mascotte, a small south LakeCounty community, authorities arrested several people after an investigation revealed a brothel in a small house. On weekends, 10 to 15 men would visit each night, paying $20 for 15 minutes with a woman, law-enforcement authorities said.
Speaking about the brothel in Davenport, he said, "Until immigration services got wind of it, we had no idea it was going on."
PolkCounty has about 16,500 migrant and seasonal farmworkers -- one of the highest populations in the state.
Brothels and the crimes associated with them such as drugs occur throughout Florida's rural and agricultural counties, said Frank Figueroa, the special agent in charge for the Tampa division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"This generally doesn't hit the radar screen because it doesn't impact the normal citizen," Figueroa said.
"They were in a low-risk community," Figueroa said of the Davenport operation. "Their ability to stay under our radar screen was somewhat successful."
Amy L. Edwards can be reached at 863-422-3395 or .