Task Force Dismantles Human Trafficking Family

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Federal Agents say Maribel Rodriguez Vasquez may have blonde hair as seen in this picture

A highly-specialized Human Trafficking Task Force of FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials is hot on the trail for Maribel Rodriguez Vasquez.  Vasquez is the sole outstanding member of an elaborate human trafficking ring for prostitution that was operated by her own family.  In December 2006, the Task Force arrested her three aunts, two cousins and three associates and all are currently being held without bond.  Following the arrests, authorities were able to secure enough evidence to indict Vasquez and secure a warrant for her arrest.

By the summer of 2007, a federal grand jury returned a 50-count indictment charging Vasquez, her family and associates of trafficking a minimum of 12 girls from Guatemala to Los Angeles and forcing them to work as prostitutes.  Vasquez's warrant charges her with conspiracy, human trafficking, fraud and importing and harboring illegal aliens for prostitution.

Bogus Job Offer Entices Guatemalan Girl To U.S.

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Vasquez and her associates used witchcraft to control their victims.

Authorities believe that Maribel Rodriguez Vasquez was groomed for the family-run business of prostitution.  Vasquez was not a prostitute herself.  Instead, she joined the clan as a pimp.

Federal agents say that back in Guatemala, Vasquez's family solicited young, beautiful girls to move to the United States with promises of good paying jobs.  That's how Vasquez was introduced to an unsuspecting victim, known only to America's Most Wanted as Jane Doe to protect her identity.

Jane Doe told authorities that she was impoverished and living in squalor along a Guatemalan riverbank in 2005 when she was approached by Vasquez's stepfather who offered her a job in America.  The young Doe seized the opportunity for a better life.  Cops say Vasquez fronted the money for her transportation to the U.S. and hired her as a babysitter in order to repay the debt.

According to her statement, Jane Doe arrived in the U.S. in February 2006 and was immediately ushered to Vasquez's home in Los Angeles.  Doe claims she worked as a babysitter for Vasquez - but that soon changed.

Jane Doe told authorities that after a month of working as a babysitter, Vasquez turned the tables and began forcing her into a life of prostitution.  According to Doe, when she refused to become a sex slave, Vasquez threatened to kill the family she left behind in Guatemala.  Doe also recalled that Vasquez forced her to see a so-called witch doctor who cast spells and foretold bad fortune if she ever tried to escape or told anyone about the prostitution ring.  

Escape For Freedom

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Candles on an altar. Agents say victims were forced to participate in witchcraft

Jane Doe told federal agents that for several months, she was confined to Vasquez's home where she was under continuous supervision and forced to have sex with desperate and eager johns.  According to federal agents, Doe and the other sex slaves were occasionally brought to the area around Los Angeles' Alvarado and 8th Streets to solicit for sex.  Even on the streets, the girls were never out of the eyesight of Vasquez or her associates.

Doe said that she successfully escaped from the house once when Vasquez was drunk and not looking.  But Vasquez quickly found Doe and threatened her back into submission.  Doe said she maintained obedience because she knew that other non-compliant girls were beaten by Vasquez.

The young Doe said the sexual abuse continued for several more months until a rare opportunity afforded her a chance to break free.  Doe and three other girls were arrested for solicitation by LAPD one night and taken into custody.  After being cited and released, Doe and the girls ran for freedom. 

Later in 2006, FBI officials learned about the trafficking and prostitution ring from a tipster.  During the course of the investigation, agents obtained Doe's testimony which helped implicate Vasquez.

A November 2006 rescue operation by the Task Force led to the arrest of most of the operation's organizers, but Vasquez remains at-large.  Task Force agents need the public's help in locating fugitive Maribel Rodriguez Vasquez.  In March 2008, the FBI upped the ante for Vasquez's capture, naming her as one of Los Angeles' most wanted fugitives and publishing a Spanish-language poster. 

--By Roger J. Chiang, AMW Staff

AMW Exclusive: FBI & ICE Nab Accused L.A. Madam

Accused Los Angeles madam Maribel Vasquez was arrested in a raid by FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a home in East Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2008.

Federal authorities  say Vasquez was the only member of a family-run human trafficking and prostitution ring who was still at large.

Last year, federal officials had arrested the eight other defendants, including Vasquez's aunts, cousins and associates, and they are all facing trials for a variety of charges, including conspiracy, human trafficking, fraud and importing and harboring young girls from Guatemala for prostitution.

Federal agents have been on the manhunt for Vasquez for nearly two years, and even named her as one of the FBI's most-wanted fugitives in Los Angeles.

AMW joined the manhunt, featuring Vasquez on AMW.com and on the broadcast in April 2008. Agents received several credible tips from AMW tipsters. 

Federal agents had received information about Vasquez's whereabouts from a tipster. After agents conducted surveillance and confirmed that Vasquez was indeed staying at a home in East Los Angeles, they swooped in and arrested her without incident.

AMW cameras were at the home at the time of the arrest, and you'll only see the footage of the takedown on AMW.com.

Agents tell AMW that Vasquez will likely face trial with her co-defendants.

-- By Roger J. Chiang, AMW Staff