Illegal migrant gets 10 years for forcing Venezuelan women to work as prostitutes
A Venezuelan Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Trafficking Operation
A Venezuelan man living in the United States without legal status has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a trafficking operation that exploited migrant women in Chicago and its suburbs. The case unfolded in January 2024 when Chicago police rescued two Venezuelan women who were victims of the operation.
Rescue and Revelations
The rescued women, aged 20 and 22, disclosed that they had been brought to the U.S. by a man known as Victor, who coerced them into prostitution to repay a fabricated debt. After escaping Victor, they encountered another man named Yession, who offered them protection but instead held them at gunpoint and forced them into separate vehicles with three other men.
Both women were taken to a residence on West Gladys Avenue in Austin, where Wilson Albeiro Vasquez Roman, 24, held them at gunpoint along with other men. Vasquez Roman threatened the women with firearms and informed them they would be sent out of state for prostitution.
Discovery and Arrest
When one of the victims required medical attention, Vasquez Roman took them to Loretto Hospital, where the woman disclosed their situation to hospital staff. Police were contacted, leading to Vasquez Roman’s arrest. He confessed to his involvement in the trafficking operation, admitting to transporting women to hotels for prostitution.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Vasquez Roman pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and involuntary servitude. Judge Steven Watkins sentenced him to 10 years in prison for involuntary servitude and 7 years for kidnapping, to be served concurrently.
The case sheds light on the exploitation and trafficking of vulnerable individuals and underscores the importance of combating such criminal activities to safeguard human rights and dignity.
