Agents found and seized approximately packaged condoms and several bottles of personal lubricant gel. Maria allegedly operated the prostitution business using undocumented female immigrants. ICE says that Maria harbored and transported undocumented females across state lines for prostitution into North Carolina.
Maria is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. Two latina prostitutes would then stay at her home for a week before being brought back to North Carolina and then switched out for two new women. ICE says Maria would deliver a prostitute to the location of a caller, or, in some cases, would allow victims to go to her home for business.
Federal agents were alerted to the situation by an informant who was not identified in official documents. ICE says surveillance operations found that two vehicles each containing an older woman and a younger woman made short stops at various locations in a manner consistent with the prostitution business involving undocumented immigrants.
Also various people would allegedly come to Maria's residence and stay for a short time before leaving. Officials set up a sting operation where they had their informant contact Maria and initiate a prostitution deal.
ICE stated that during a recorded phone call on Aug. Officials said the driver, Maria provided an international driver's license and a Mexican passport. Two other women were in the vehicle at the time. ICE said Maria stated that she was returning from North Carolina after seeing a doctor and that the two passengers were visiting South Carolina. Officials added that the passengers had Mexican passports and would look at Maria for directions when asked questions.
