October 17, 2007

Brazilian woman sentenced for running prostitution ring involving illegal aliens

BOSTON - A Brazilian national was sentenced late yesterday to 20 months in prison for running a prostitution ring, and employing illegal aliens in Burlington, Mass.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Bruce M. Foucart, special agent-in-charge of U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Investigations in Boston, announced that Vanessa Cristina Guedes Lopes, 26, of Miami, Fla., was sentenced for inducing aliens to reside in the U.S. illegally, inducing individuals to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution, sex trafficking and conspiracy. In addition, Lopes was convicted of making false statements in immigration documents. Lopes will be deported after serving her sentence.

The indictment alleged that from July 2004 through February 2006, Lopes and a codefendant conspired together to profit from a prostitution business, which exploited Brazilian women who were in the U.S. illegally. According to the indictment, Lopes recruited women for the business, advertised for them on the Internet and then directed the women to various locations throughout Massachusetts and neighboring states for prostitution. The indictment also stated that, in order to keep the women from quitting, Lopes and her codefendant used various threats against them, including the threat of deportation.

"Traffickers care only about money and think nothing of leaving victims abused and exploited in the wake of their greed," said Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Boston. "This case should put others engaging in the crime of human trafficking on notice. ICE will pursue those criminals who place a higher value on profit than on human dignity."

"We are committed to the aggressive prosecution of human trafficking, and we will use all laws available to investigate and prosecute those participating in the sex trafficking business," stated United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan.

The case was investigated by ICE with assistance from the following police departments; Andover, Boston, Burlington, Fall River, Framingham, Hanson, Lowell, Malden, Medford, Somerville, Tewksbury and Woburn, and the Nashua Police Department in New Hampshire.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George W. Vien of Sullivan's Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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