Image via WikipediaHOUSTON CHRONICLE
Nov. 18, 2010, 6:46PM
Estela Aguilar-Lopez, 47, Blanca Estela Lopez-Aguilar, 37, and Francisco Ivan Rodriguez-Garcia, 29, were indicted Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to force labor and conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Houston.
The defendants, all citizens of Mexico, are accused of running a scheme to collect smuggling debts of about $2,200 to $2,500 from illegal immigrants by forcing them to sell counterfeit goods in Houston apartment complexes.
The investigation started with a tip in August to FBI agents that illegal immigrants were being held against their will at a home in the 10000 block of Woodico Court in north Houston, court records show.
At the home, federal agents found two women they suspected may be trafficking victims and started an investigation into the smuggling ring, which authorities said dates to 2006.
The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to recruit people from Mexico to come to the U.S. illegally, and then forced them to live with them and work for them hawking pirated goods.
The trio allegedly abused and intimidated the illegal immigrants into working for them until their debts were paid off, according to prosecutors.
All three defendants have been in federal custody without bail since their arrests in September. If convicted on the forced labor conspiracy charge, they face up to 20 years in prison. A conviction for the harboring conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine of $250,000.
Source: Houston Chronicle
