NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – After a year-long investigation into an unlicensed bar and sex brothel in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana State Police have arrested two illegal immigrants who were running the businesses.
Roxana Flores-Rodriguez, 39-years-old of El Salvador, and Jose Jaimes-Meza, 36-years-old of Mexico, were both arrested by state police and booked on multiple charges after they allegedly ran a sex business that mainly serviced the city’s Hispanic community, according to the Louisiana State Police.
The investigation began in August 2015 after detectives received information from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office related to narcotics distribution. Detectives and Homeland Security Investigations agents found that Rodriguez and Meza were operating a brothel and unlicensed bar at 2523 N. Claiborne Ave in New Orleans.
In August 2015, detectives found one Hispanic sex worker after raiding the business. Detectives also found evidence indicating the brothel had been operating since at least May 2015.
Detectives believe that 10 or more other sex workers were rotated since May 2015. State police said illicit cash proceeds from the sex business were used to operate the N. Claiborne Avenue brothel.
On September 3, 2016, arrest warrants for both suspects were signed in Orleans Parish. State police, Homeland Security agents and the U.S. Marshalls arrested Rodriguez and Meza in Metairie three days later.
The illegal immigrants were charged with Promoting Prostitution, Pandering, Money Laundering and Operation of Places of Prostitution. Both were booked into the Orleans Parish Jail.
“The disruption of human trafficking and the apprehension of responsible offenders will remain a priority for Louisiana State Police” Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson said in a statement following the arrest. “Every rescued victim is not just a statistic, but a family reunited, a life saved and a community made safer.”
John Binder is a contributor for Breitbart Texas. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.