The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of eight Venezuelan nationals in Tennessee this week, charging them in connection with a transnational commercial sex trafficking ring.
Federal prosecutors allege that the suspects operated a human trafficking network out of Memphis, Tennessee, bringing women in and out of the United States for prostitution.
According to a DOJ press release issued Wednesday, the operation involved smuggling illegal aliens into the country and then advertising women for sex on various online platforms.
A four-count indictment, unsealed Tuesday, accuses the suspects of using their cell phones to coordinate sex transactions by directing buyers to meet the trafficked women at motels.
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The indictment details how the operation facilitated illegal entry into the U.S. and exploited women for profit.
Robert E. McGuire, acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, addressed the arrests in a statement, saying, “This indictment demonstrates our commitment to stop human trafficking whenever and wherever we find it, and to hold those involved accountable.”
Robert E. McGuire, Middle District of Tennessee
McGuire also linked the trafficking operation to Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan street gang that has expanded its presence in the United States in recent years.
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“We are coming after transnational criminal organizations like TdA, but this case shows that we will also do whatever it takes to stop those who would traffic women and girls no matter who is behind their suffering,” McGuire stated.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville played a role in the investigation. Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Nashville, emphasized the significance of dismantling the criminal network.
“The success of this operation to stop Tren de Aragua operating in our communities is a significant step forward in our ongoing battle against human trafficking and transnational organized crime,” Saoud said.
Saoud further stressed that partnerships between law enforcement agencies at various levels are key to combatting human trafficking, which often has connections to illegal immigration.
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“This investigation exemplifies the importance of collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies in ending these crimes in our communities while leaving a trail of suffering in their wake,” she stated.
The eight individuals charged in the case are:
- Yilibeth del Carmen Rivero-De Caldera, 51
- Kleiver Daniel Mota-Rivero, 35
- Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca, 39
- Wilmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano, 22
- Frankyanna Del Valle Romero-Rivero, 30
- Endrik Alexander Morales-Rivero, 25
- Jesus Enrique Castillo Rodriguez, 24
- Ariannys Beatriz Gutierrez-Carrillo, 24
The charges against them include human trafficking, firearm offenses, and prostitution-related crimes. If convicted, the defendants face penalties ranging from five years to life in prison.
This case highlights the increasing presence of transnational criminal organizations in the U.S. and the role of illegal immigration in facilitating human trafficking networks.
Federal authorities continue to work with local and state law enforcement to target such operations and dismantle criminal enterprises that exploit vulnerable individuals.
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