Authorities Dismantle Human Trafficking Ring In Mercer County: NJSP

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Authorities have charged eight people in connection with running a human trafficking network out of Mercer County, New Jersey State Police (NJSP) said Thursday.

The charges come after a four-month-long investigation. Detectives found females were smuggled into the country and forced into prostitution, NJSP said.

Seven Mercer County residents and one Asbury Park resident have been charged with 1st-degree human trafficking, 1st-degree promoting child prostitution, endangering the welfare of a child and other offenses.

Paulino Macolas-Aguirre, 43, of Trenton, was identified as the ringleader of the operation, authorities said.

On Friday, Jan. 21, detectives from the State Police Missing Persons & Human Trafficking Unit obtained information that a juvenile was being trafficked out of a residence on Hudson Street, Trenton. Later in the day, law enforcement executed a search warrant and found two females inside the residence, police said. Daniel Bonito Camara, 55, of Trenton and Edy Villeda Estrada, 39, of Trenton were arrested.

During the investigation, detectives discovered that one of the victims was smuggled from Mexico to Texas under the belief that she would be working in a restaurant, NJSP said. However, she was forced into human sex trafficking. The juvenile was then trafficked into New Jersey where she continued to be forced into prostitution in Asbury Park before being moved to Trenton, NJSP said.

On Wednesday, May 11, detectives from NJSP Missing Persons & Human Trafficking Unit, Trenton Police Department, Asbury Park Police Department, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Fugitive Unit and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice executed search warrants at various homes in Trenton.

As a result, nine female victims were found, police said. Detectives also obtained evidence that they were smuggled into the United States under the pretense they would be provided legitimate employment.

Here are the names of the suspects and what they have been charged with:

Paulino Macola- Aguirre, 43, of Trenton, N.J

• Two counts of 1st Degree Human Trafficking
• 1st Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 1st Degree Promoting Child Prostitution
• 2nd Degree Facilitating Human Trafficking
• 2nd Degree Sexual Assault
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering
• 3rd Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution
• Conspiracy

Daniel Bonito Camara, 55, of Trenton, N.J.

• 1st Degree Human Trafficking
• 1st Degree Promoting Child Prostitution
• 1st Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 2nd Degree Facilitating Human Trafficking
• 2nd Degree Hindering Apprehension
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering
• 2nd Degree Conspiracy to Commit Hindering Apprehension
• 2nd Degree Hindering Apprehension
• 3rd Degree Hindering apprehension
• 3rd Degree Witness Tampering
• 3rd Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution

Edy Villeda Estrada, 39, of Trenton, N.J.

• 1st Degree Human Trafficking
• 1st Degree Promoting Child Prostitution
• 1st Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 2nd Degree Facilitating Human Trafficking
• 3rd Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution

Efran Melocastillo, 30, of Trenton, N.J.

• Conspiracy
• 2nd Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution

Jose Gabriel Camara Perico, 30 of Trenton, N.J.

• Conspiracy
• 2nd Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution

Laura Macolas Aguirre, 44 of Asbury Park, N.J.

• Conspiracy
• 1st Degree Human Trafficking
• 2nd Degree Facilitating Human Trafficking
• 2nd Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution

Daniel Handerson Camara Perico, 31 of Trenton, N.J.

• Conspiracy
• 2nd Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution
• 2nd Conspiracy to commit Tampering with Witness

Daniela Penco-Camara, 28 of Trenton, N.J.

• Conspiracy
• 2nd Degree Promoting Organized Street Crime
• 3rd Degree Money Laundering
• 3rd Degree Maintaining a House of Prostitution
• 2nd Conspiracy to commit Tampering with Witness

Daniel Handerson Camara Perico and Daniela Penco-Camara remain at large, police. All other suspects were lodged in Mercer County Jail pending detention hearings.

“The trafficking of human beings is horrific, particularly when it involves the sexual exploitation of vulnerable women and girls lured to this country under the promise of a better life,” Acting Attorney General Platkin said in a statement.

“We are committed to working with the State Police and our law enforcement partners to arrest human traffickers and rescue their victims from the shadows, where these crimes occur.”

Col. Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police said human trafficking victims are subjected to physical and emotional abuse. “This investigation shows our dedication to use every resource at our disposal to bring these criminals to justice and dismantle operations that create life-long, damage to victims,”

Callahan asked residents to remain vigilant and report crimes to law enforcement.

(If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call 855-END-NJ-HT. All tips remain anonymous)

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