Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, May 5, 2011
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - US Attorney Joe Hogsett announced the bust of a multi-state prostitution ring based in Indianapolis.
Three Mexican brothers, Jose Luis Hernandez-Castilla, Norberto Hernandez-Castilla and Gregorio Hernandez Castilla are the alleged masterminds.
Authorities say the brothers oversaw the ring that smuggled women or prostitutes from central or South America into the U.S.
They say the ring rotated women who served Hispanic clients in homes or apartment complexes mainly during workday hours.
The women worked in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. Authorities got search warrants and arrested nineteen people including the Castilla brothers on racketeering charges Tuesday.
The sixteen other arrested reportedly worked as house managers or runners transporting women.
Currently, none of the women are under arrest.
Authorities say most of those arrested are not U.S. citizens.
They say the suspects used business cards promoting western wear or auto repair services to recruit clients who paid about $40 per transaction.
Hogsett says the arrests follow an almost ten-year investigation.
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