El Paso, Texas, couple sentenced to federal prison for inducing foreign or interstate travel for prostitution
EL PASO, Texas — A local husband and wife were sentenced Tuesday for their roles in an illegal prostitution scheme.
U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case.
Maria Blake, 45, aka “Jessica,” and “Yvonne,” and her husband, Ronald, 45, are charged with inducing foreign or interstate travel for prostitution. They were sentenced to 30 months and six months in federal prison, respectively. In addition to the prison terms, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ordered Maria Blake to pay a $1,000 fine and be placed under supervised release for 10 years after she completes her prison term. Ronald Blake will pay a $500 fine, remain under home confinement for six months, and be placed under supervised release for 10 years after he completes his prison term.
The judge further ordered that the defendants’ residence in the 2400 block of Tierra Nueva Drive in El Paso be forfeited to the government since it was used to facilitate their prostitution scheme.
In October 2014, both defendants pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting coercion and enticement. By pleading guilty, the Blakes admitted that from July 2011 to January 2013 they ran a prostitution operation whereby they knowingly persuaded, or attempted to persuade, about five females to travel from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso to engage in sexual activity for financial gain.
The Blakes were arrested based on an investigation initiated by the El Paso Anti-trafficking Coordination Team, or ACT Team, a human trafficking task force composed of HSI and FBI special agents and the Department of Labor.
“The ACT Team is an effective and efficient law enforcement force multiplier for us to identify, arrest and prosecute criminals involved in luring and prostituting young women,” said Acting HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Tom Hernandez. “This team of professionals help us place these criminal networks on our radar that operate in our region.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rifian Newaz, Western District of Texas, prosecuted this case.
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