Conspiracy to commit human trafficking lawyers

Five people face charges of human trafficking for allegedly operating brothels in Lakewood that were part of a large prostitution network in several states including New Jersey.  Four Lakewood men and one Union City resident are charged with trafficking women from Mexico to the United States to work as prostitutes, according to a release from the State. The alleged ringleader’s girlfriend also was also arrested for assisting them in operating the brothels.
Popular.  The arrests mark the first time that charges have been filed in New Jersey under a new new human trafficking law.  The law created new crimes of human trafficking, including the offense of first-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, as well as enhanced penalties for such crimes.

The alleged “owner” of the Lakewood brothels, Jose Cruz Romero-Flores, 38, a.k.a. “Chato,” was arrested on Thursday, July 11, at his apartment on River Avenue in Lakewood on charges of first-degree human trafficking, second-degree promoting organized street crime, and third-degree promoting prostitution.

Also arrested on July 11 were:

Felix Rios-Martinez, 47, of Lakewood, who was charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, second-degree promoting organized street crime and third-degree promoting prostitution;
Raul Romero-Castillo, 30, of Lakewood, who was charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, second-degree promoting organized street crime and third-degree promoting prostitution.
Santos Lazaero Flores-Cruz, 58, of Union City, who was charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, second-degree promoting organized street crime and third-degree promoting prostitution.
Haliro Bueno, 21, of Lakewood, who was charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit human trafficking, second-degree promoting organized street crime and third-degree promoting prostitution.

Romero-Flores’s girlfriend, Odulia Bedran Trejo, 22, was arrested on Sunday, July 14, at Romero-Flores’s apartment on charges of second-degree promoting organized street crime and third-degree promoting prostitution.

The girlfriend and four others allegedly assisted Romero-Flores by watching the brothels, driving women and clients to-and-from the brothels and carrying out other tasks. The girlfriend also allegedly helped to find women for the brothels, according to the State.  The first-degree human trafficking charge carries a sentence of 20 years to life in state prison.

On July 11, detectives and agents executed search warrants for the brothel on Brook Road and Romero-Flores’s home, as well as several vehicles, seizing about $5,800 in cash, identification documents including Mexican passports and driver’s licenses, cell phones, laptops, and ledgers that listed the names of women who worked in the brothels and dates they were scheduled to work.

Conspiracy to commit human trafficking attorney