KENS 5
Two people were arrested and several women rescued from a life of prostitution Wednesday following an investigation by the Human Trafficking Resource Alliance, U.S. Attorney Jose Angel Moreno said Thursday.
Pedro Corporan Cedano, a 38-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic, was arrested Wednesday during a traffic stop near his Deer Park home.
Cedano was charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
Prosecutors believe Cedano used several apartments in and around Houston and Pasadena to promote and provide commercial sex.
The alleged prostitutes were illegal immigrants, some of whom were paying off smuggling fees by selling sex, prosecutors said.
On Thursday, Carmen Angeles, 33, was charged with harboring illegal aliens. Angeles was arrested Wednesday at one of the apartments used by Cedano on Goodson Drive, investigators said.
According to the official criminal complaint, Angeles knowingly harbored two illegal immigrants at the apartment, where they engaged in prostitution.
Cedano was being held in federal custody pending an August 23 bond hearing.
Angeles is expected to make her initial court appearance on August 20.
Prosecutors said a total of nine women were found in the Houston apartments controlled by Cedano.
The women were placed in the custody of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement / Homeland Security Investigations and will likely be designated as material witnesses in the case.
Cedano could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
Angeles could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of harboring illegal aliens.
Pedro Corporan Cedano, a 38-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic, was arrested Wednesday during a traffic stop near his Deer Park home.
Cedano was charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
Prosecutors believe Cedano used several apartments in and around Houston and Pasadena to promote and provide commercial sex.
The alleged prostitutes were illegal immigrants, some of whom were paying off smuggling fees by selling sex, prosecutors said.
On Thursday, Carmen Angeles, 33, was charged with harboring illegal aliens. Angeles was arrested Wednesday at one of the apartments used by Cedano on Goodson Drive, investigators said.
According to the official criminal complaint, Angeles knowingly harbored two illegal immigrants at the apartment, where they engaged in prostitution.
Cedano was being held in federal custody pending an August 23 bond hearing.
Angeles is expected to make her initial court appearance on August 20.
Prosecutors said a total of nine women were found in the Houston apartments controlled by Cedano.
The women were placed in the custody of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement / Homeland Security Investigations and will likely be designated as material witnesses in the case.
Cedano could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
Angeles could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of harboring illegal aliens.
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