#73 Indianapolis- Prostitution, Rackeetering
http://www.indystar.com/article/2011050 ... od|mostcom
Feds-dismantle-prostitution-ring-smuggling-women-from-Mexico-Central-AmericaU.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett today announced the dismantling of a multi-state prostitution ring with Indianapolis ties.
Women were smuggled from Central America and Mexico, then worked as prostitutes to repay the ring for bringing them to the United States, according to federal authorities at a news conference in Downtown Indianapolis. No evidence showed the women were being held against their will, the authorities said.
Three brothers -- Jose Luis "Pedro" Hernandez-Castilla, Indianapolis; Norberto "Jorge" Hernandez-Castilla, Addison, Ill.; and Gregorio "Paco" Hernandez-Castilla, whose location was not in court documents -- ran the ring, authorities said. They have arrested a total of 19 people but court documents only listed 16, including the brothers, who have been charged so far with running a racketing enterprise across state lines.
The ring's organization used business cards that advertised auto repair and Western wear shops, but recipients knew the cards contained information for arranging appointments with prostitutes.
Hogsett said the prostitution ring operated in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Court documents indicated the houses of prostitution that catered to Latinos and Hispanics operated in Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Grand Rapids, Mich. Other Indiana houses were in Fort Wayne and Elkhart.
"These women appear to be transported from brothel to brothel on a weekly basis," court documents said. "Each session of prostitution, referred to as a 'ticket,' would last from 10 to 20 minutes and cost between $40 and $50."
Most of the houses of prostitution in Indianapolis were operated from apartment complexes, court documents said, including these:
>> Arrow Woods Apartments, on the Far Northside off West 71st Street.
>> Greentree Apartments, on the Far Southside near Stop 11 Road and Madison Avenue.
>> La Joya Apartments, on the Northside near 47th Street and Georgetown Road.
>> Lawrence Crossing Apartments, on the Northeastside near Pendleton Pike and 42nd Street.
>> Stratford Apartments, on the Westside off 30th Street north of the "Coke Lot" used for parking during Indianapolis Motor Speedway races.Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers learned from one of the people arrested, identified only as "AL," that the brothers ran the operation. "AL," who was interviewed in Illinois, told IMPD officers that Jose Luis Hernandez-Castilla had been "running operations in Indianapolis, Indiana, for over ten years" and "operating under the radar of law enforcement."
Jose Luis Hernandez-Castilla held meetings on Sundays at the International Village Apartments, in the vicinity of 30th Street and High School Road on the Far Westside, police learned from "AL." Jose Luis met with others in the ring who ran houses of prostitution. Women would be brought to the meeting by the house operators and traded. Money also was exchanged at the meetings, "AL" told police.
Jose Luis would initially tell the females they must work as prostitutes as "payback" for getting them to the United States, police learned.
"AL" also told IMPD he had been deported and was working off his debt to Jose Luis for helping return him to the United States.As in many U.S. cities, the Hispanic and Latino population in Indianapolis has jumped dramatically in recent years. Marion County has grown from 33,290 in 2000 to 84,466 in 2010, census figures show. That's a 154 percent increase, compared to the nearly 5 percent growth of the county's total population in the same decade.
If found guilty, each person charged could face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Initial hearings were to be scheduled for those charged.
A tip to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana in December 2007 initiated the investigation.
Hogsett joined Michael Welch, Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent in charge for Indianapolis, and local police in conducting the news conference.
This story will be updated. Star reporter John Tuohy contributed to this report. Call Star reporter Carrie Ritchie at (317) 444-2751.