Federal jury convicts Texas bar owner for sex trafficking and harboring

 
A Texas woman was found guilty late last week on three counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to harbor aliens, and six counts of harboring aliens. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigation (HSI). Beleal Garcia-Gonzalez, 34, of Mission, Tex., was convicted Sept. 23 after a 3-day jury trial. During the trial, ICE HSI agents testified they learned in January 2010 that underage undocumented immigrants were being forced to work at a bar and were being prostituted by the bar’s owner, Garcia-Gonzalez. Subsequent investigation revealed that three minors, ages 17, 15, and 14, were working at the bar and being prostituted by Garcia-Gonzalez.  To read the ICE press realease, click here.

KJ