9 charged in sex slavery case in LA
Yet another reason for us to get serious about immigration enforcement:
LOS ANGELES - Nine Guatemalans were indicted for their roles in an alleged sex trafficking ring that lured young women to the United States with promises of good jobs and then forced them into prostitution, according to federal court records.
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Four of the defendants pleaded not guilty in January to sex trafficking charges in the case. A superseding indictment, unsealed Thursday, includes more serious allegations that five of the 12 victims were minors.
According to the new 50-count indictment, the defendants at times sold Guatemalan women and girls to one another like slaves and allegedly brought the victims to witch doctors who threatened to put curses on them and their families if they ran away.
"These young women were enticed into coming to this country by promises of the American dream only to arrive and discover that what awaited was a nightmare," said Robert Schoch, a special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Traffic in illegal immigration doesn't just hurt the U.S. - it hurts those attempting to come here, too, some of whom are victimized by those promising them a better life. How many are being enslaved, or are dying in crowded, overheated trucks every year because too often we look the other way?