U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie (Newark) today announced that the "enforcer" of a human trafficking ring that smuggled young Honduran women into the United States and forced them to work at three Hudson County bars pleaded guilty today to her role which violated of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which was authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). 

    The law focused on the most severe forms of trafficking in human beings and provided law enforcement tools to eliminate slavery – particularly sex slavery – by a comprehensive, balanced approach of prevention, prosecution and enforcement, and victim protection.  

    "We wrote this law to eliminate exactly this kind of revolting criminal activity," said Representative Smith, who also authored the 2003 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. "The law must be vigorously enforced so that we can end the abhorrent practice of trafficking, torture and slavery of women and children once and for all." 

    Xochil Nectalina Rosales Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to force the Honduran women to work at the bars in Union City to pay back smuggling fees of $10,000 to $20,000. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The 31-count Indictment issued in July described the rape and torture of young women while smuggled to the United States. Victims – younger than 21 – were forced to continually drink alcohol and dance with male bar customers in order to raise money to pay smuggling fees between $10,000 and $20,000. 

    Additional ringleaders and others involved in the human trafficking ring were also indicted. As part of the plea, Martinez revealed that one of the Honduran women had become pregnant and was ordered to take an abortion-inducing drug. She explained in grotesque detail how the young woman gave birth to a live baby girl the next day – into a toilet in one of the apartments where the smuggled women were forced to live. Following the birth, the co-conspirators planned how to dispose of the infant’s body and hide the woman’s birth, instead of getting needed medical attention. The baby was dead by the time an ambulance had brought her to a hospital. 

    "It is sad that the sole motive for this modern slavery is greed," said Smith. "I am thankful that our U.S. Attorney Chris Christie has been a nationwide leader in the effort to bring those that commit these horrible crimes to justice."

    Smith’s Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 972) has been passed by Committee and is ready to be voted on by the House of Representatives. His legislation strengthens the nation’s current trafficking law (which he also authored) and authorizes new funds for investigation and prosecution of domestic trafficking within the United States. Smith’s bill ensures that the United States will continue to lead the global battle against modern-day human slavery. According to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will provide $354 million to combat trafficking.

    "The victims of this terrible crime cannot be forgotten," said Smith, who has fought for human and victims rights since coming to Congress. "The 2005 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act strengthens and expands our efforts and allows law enforcement to continue to liberate the women and children who are forced and coerced into slavery, and should be passed as quickly as possible."