FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

November 13, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER PLEAD GUILTY TO TRANSPORTING HUNDREDS OF PROSTITUTES TO MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES

Most of the Prostitutes Were Illegal Aliens Transported

from New York and New Jersey

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Olinda Aparicio, age 65, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to transport hundreds of women for prostitution purposes to Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Her daughter, Elsy Aparicio, age 30, also of Gaithersburg, pleaded guilty on November 3, 2006 to the same charge, as well as to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to the plea agreements presented to the court, from April 2003 to November 16, 2005, Elsy Aparicio and some of her co-conspirators communicated with the women by cellular telephone at least a week prior to their travel to Maryland, and scheduled them to work in at least 15 places of prostitution that they operated, including apartments and houses in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Langley Park and Wheaton. Elsy Aparicio and/or her co-conspirators then picked up these women early on Monday mornings at various pre-arranged locations in New York and New Jersey and dropped them off in Maryland where they worked as prostitutes for a week at a time. A doorman collected money from customers and provided security for the prostitutes. The co-conspirators provided the prostitutes with food and supplies for a set weekly fee. Other individuals, including Olinda Aparicio, used their names to acquire apartments and cell phones for use in the prostitution business and sold lingerie and shoes to the prostitutes. The vast majority of the women they employed as prostitutes were aliens unlawfully present in the United States.

From April 2003 to February 2006, Elsy Aparicio also participated in a conspiracy to conceal the proceeds of the prostitution business by, for example, purchasing: a white 2004 Chevrolet van that was later used to transport prostitutes; and two properties that were used as places of prostitution: 488 West Deer Park Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and 1207 Kirklynn Terrace, Takoma Park, Maryland.

The defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to transport the aliens for prostitution purposes; and Elsy Aparicio also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr scheduled sentencing for Olinda Aparacio on January 31, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. and for Elsy Aparacio on January 17, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Montgomery County Police Department; and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chan Park and Gina Simms, who are prosecuting the case.

This page last modified—November 13, 2006