Authorities in New Jersey have dismantled a human trafficking operation in Trenton and Camden, revealing shocking details about how traffickers used fake business cards to lure victims under the guise of legitimate services.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced the arrests of eight individuals involved in an alleged racketeering scheme, which exploited at least 15 women.
The traffickers initially advertised their services with business cards that falsely promoted plumbing and barbershop services.
However, these cards directed callers to a messaging app, where potential clients could access a catalog of women, complete with information about their ages, locations, and countries of origin.
“I want you to think about that for a moment,” said Platkin during a press conference.
“We are talking about human beings, women, being treated as property, indistinguishable from a car service or renting an automobile.”
The arrests took place on June 25, during coordinated law enforcement raids at five different locations across Trenton and Camden.
During these operations, authorities rescued 15 women whose ages ranged from 21 to 58, uncovering evidence of commercial sex activities.
According to Theresa Hilton, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice, the alleged masterminds of the trafficking ring are Vilma Deleon Bracamonte, 55, and Maria Soledad Xec Chan, 42.
These women are accused of convincing victims to come to the brothels under false pretenses, often offering jobs in cleaning or restaurant work.
Once in these establishments, victims faced threats if they refused to perform sex acts, with one woman indicating that she was warned about potential harm to her family.
The other six defendants are believed to have played various roles, including managing the brothels and collecting money and supplies.
These individuals are:
Santiago Miranda-Gomez, 30, of Trenton,
Francisco Macariosut, 50, of Trenton,
Abel Aguilera-Ronquillo, 27, of Trenton,
Julio C. Delgado-Belmeo, 27, of Trenton,
Flavio R. Navarrete-Reyes, 45, of Camden,
Wilmer E. Pinargote-Chimbiligua, 29, of Camden.
All eight perpetrators are facing serious charges, including first-degree racketeering and first-degree human trafficking, among other offenses.
Bracamonte and Xec Chan may face additional charges due to their roles as leaders within the criminal enterprise.
If convicted, they could spend 10 to 20 years in state prison on the first-degree charges.
The racketeering charges are particularly severe, falling under the No Early Release Act and carrying the possibility of fines up to $500,000.
Additional lesser charges could lead to prison terms of three to ten years and fines of up to $150,000.
The investigation into this trafficking ring began in May 2024, when detectives found business cards listing several misleading addresses in Trenton, falsely advertising barbershops and plumbing services.
Authorities confirmed that none of these locations were connected to any legitimate businesses.
Investigators monitored the activities of individuals associated with the trafficking ring, ultimately leading them to discover a fifth location in Camden.
During their operations, it was revealed that men were paying $50 for 15 minutes of sexual services, with half of the money going to the women.
The prosecution of this case falls to the Division of Criminal Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit, with assistance from various law enforcement agencies.
Covenant House New Jersey is providing support and services to the survivors of this horrific operation.
Anyone with information about human trafficking in New Jersey is encouraged to contact the state’s 24-hour hotline at 855-END-NJHT, where anonymous reports can be made.
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