HOUSTON, Texas–47-year-old Gerardo Salazar, a fugitive since 2005, landed in the U.S. on Wednesday to face various charges related to an alleged sex trafficking ring that he was the head of. He is accused of smuggling minor girls into the U.S. from Mexico and then prostituting them in the Houston area.
Salazar, also known as “El Gallo,” is from Mexico City. An FBI press release stated that he is suspected of running the sex ring with five other Mexican nationals: Salvador Fernando Molina Garcia, Angel Moreno Salazar, Jose Luis Moreno Salazar, Juan Carlos Salazar, and Ivan Salazar.
Breitbart Texas obtained an indictment that lists four girls brought into the U.S. illegally by Salazar.
The court document alleged that, between 2004 and 2005, Salazar and his co-defendants “would smuggle and arrange to smuggle Mexican women and girls into the United States for the purpose of forcing the girls to engage in prostitution. It was further part of the conspiracy that the conspirators would place the young Mexican women and girls in bars in the United States using deception, threats of harm, physical force, and psychological coercion to compel their service.”
The defendants apparently forced the girls to turn over all prostitution profits. On some occasions, the women were apparently beaten by Salazar.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson reportedly said of Salazar’s extradition, “The formal arrest following the successful extradition of the defendant today represents our commitment to bring those accused of human trafficking to the bar of justice.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Carlos J. Barron added, “Let Salazar’s return provide assurance to these victims and others that those who engage in the egregious crimes of human trafficking will be pursued around the globe and brought to justice.”
According to the FBI Salazar is charged with sex trafficking transportation of minor for immoral purposes, transportation of illegal aliens, and conspiracy. If found guilty, he could spend life behind bars.
The sex trafficking of minors continues to be a serious concern along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Breitbart Texas Managing Director Brandon Darby has been diligent in exposing such horrors. In 2012, he revealed that he was working as an informant for the FBI, and that the agency left large numbers of sex trafficking incidents largely ignored.
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.
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