EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations, has made several arrests following a year-long human trafficking investigation in El Paso County.
Among those arrested is an attorney believed to be representing some of the individuals involved.
Investigators uncovered an international network of human smugglers and traffickers operating from Cuba through Central America and Mexico into the El Paso area.
Female victims from Cuba were reportedly forced into prostitution to repay smugglers who brought them into the United States.
Co-conspirators were responsible for advertising the victims online and transporting them to various locations throughout El Paso for prostitution.
Nine individuals were arrested by DPS CID Special Agents and HSI on charges including prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, online promotion of prostitution, possession of a controlled substance, alien inadmissibility, solicitation of prostitution, and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Mario Ortiz Saroldi, 38, of El Paso, an attorney representing some of the accused, was arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution after law enforcement determined he had solicited some of his clients for sexual acts.
He was booked into the El Paso County Jail.
Additionally, Yasiel Rodriguez-Amaro, 31, and Katherine Ventura-Amaro, 37, both of El Paso, were arrested for aggravated promotion of prostitution, online promotion of prostitution, and possession of a controlled substance.
They were also booked into the El Paso County Jail.
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