New Bedford Man, Four Others Arrested for Human Trafficking
PROVIDENCE — A New Bedford man is one of five people arrested and charged in connection to a human trafficking operation in Providence and New Bedford.
ABC6 reports that the arrests were the result of a five-month investigation, when it was discovered two Providence residents – Mairenya Valdez, 37, and Milton Estrada,35 – were heading up the sex trafficking ring out of a home on Cumerford Avenue in Providence. Police found four women inside the home, from the Dominican Republic and Mexico, and none of them spoke English.
Both are charged with human trafficking for sexual servitude, recruit and transport for the purpose of trafficking persons, transport and facilitate for the purpose of prostitution, and conspiracy.
Also arrested was 36-year-old Hector Montilla Segura of New Bedford, along with 56-year-old Carlos Lopez and 66-year-old Rodolfo Galvez, both of Providence. The three are charged with transport and facilitate females for the purposes of prostitution and conspiracy.
Providence Police say the women would be transported from Providence to New Bedford, and perhaps to other states as well. They also said there could be more victims.
The suspects are all out on bail and are due back in court January 28.