Brothel Owner Pleads Guilty in Alien Harboring Conspiracy & Prostitution Ring
"Madam" Employed Illegal Aliens in Marietta Prostitution House
ATLANTA, GA - LUZ M. GUTIERREZ, 56, of Marietta, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to conspiracy to entice individuals to cross state lines to engage in prostitution, and to encourage and induce aliens to reside unlawfully in the United States.
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: GUTIERREZ operated a house of prostitution in Marietta, Georgia, in which she employed illegal aliens, both as house caretakers and prostitutes. In addition to employing prostitutes who lived in Georgia, GUTIERREZ regularly solicited illegal alien prostitutes living in other states, including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and Massachusetts, to travel to Georgia, where they worked for GUTIERREZ and Epifania SANCHEZ Delarosa, her co-defendant, who also allegedly operated brothels. GUTIERREZ also recruited prostitutes who lived in Georgia to travel to Alabama and work for an associate of GUTIERREZ who owned and managed brothels in that state.
GUTIERREZ was indicted in December 6, 2011, on two counts of conspiracy, two counts of enticing individuals to cross state lines to engage in prostitution, and two counts of encouraging and inducing aliens to reside unlawfully in the United States. She pleaded guilty to one conspiracy count. She could receive a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Timothy C. Batten.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the Cobb County Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Teresa D. Hoyt and William G. Traynor and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Benjamin Hawk are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Information Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.
