Other human trafficking cases

In the past 11 months, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota has filed human-trafficking and related charges against 33 people in five cases as part of a new enforcement effort reflecting national priorities. Here's a summary of those cases, ordered from newest to oldest:

U.S. vs. Le Guo Wu and Houa Vang

Le Guo Wu and Houa Vang were incited Oct. 19 on one count of conspiracy to commit human trafficking and one count each of aiding and abetting human trafficking. The government alleges that they were trying to smuggle Chinese nationals into the United States by having them marry U.S. citizens. Status: Pending.

U.S. vs. Marisol Ramirez, et al.

This case involves 25 defendants indicted May 15. Charges include conspiracy, transportation of a person to engage in prostitution and coercion and enticement of another to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.

Defendants: Marisol Ramirez, 37, illegal alien. Status: Pending; Roberto Rivera-Miranda, 31, illegal alien. Status: Pending; Juana Altagracia-Lara, 37. Status: Pleaded guilty; Jose Romone Santos-Vargas, 53, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Julio Silverrio, 28, illegal alien. Status: Pending; Wilfredo Antonio Veloz, 36. Status: Pending; Keila Villanueva, 37. Status: Pending.

Miguel Isep-Roman, 32, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Manuel Dejesus Familia-Rosario, 57. Status: Pleaded guilty; Arlenys Garcia-Encarnacion, 19, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Leidy Rivera-Hernandez, 33. Status: Pleaded guilty; Yesenia Garcia Encarnacion (originally charged under the name Sacha Montenegro), age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Alejandro Nava-Garcia, 28, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty.

Alejandro Silva, age unknown, citizenship undetermined. Status: Pending; Abraham Gomez, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Luis Fragoso, 24, illegal alien. Status: Pending; Agusto Sapom, age unknown, citizenship undetermined. Status: Pleaded guilty; Angel Martinez Andres, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Arturo Meza-Ortiz, 33, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty.

Manuel Martinez-Gonzalez, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Juan Jesus Ysep Ramon, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Juan Ramon-Trejo, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Miguel Moreno Guzman, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Juan Ortiz Corez, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty; Oscar Bravo-Ceron, age unknown, illegal alien. Status: Pleaded guilty.

U.S. vs. Darryl Taylor, Tivon Bandy and Kenwaniee Tate

Darryl Taylor was indicted Feb. 20 on one count of sex trafficking of a minor. He was charged in a superseding indictment June 19 with conspiracy, four counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, five counts of sexual trafficking of a person by force, fraud or coercion, five counts of possession of documents in furtherance of trafficking, two counts of witness tampering and one count of retaliating against a witness. Status: Pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual trafficking of a person by force, fraud or coercion and one count of possession of documents in furtherance of trafficking.

Tivon Bandy was indicted June 19 on one count of conspiracy, two counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, two counts of sexual trafficking of a person by force, fraud or coercion, one count of possession of documents in furtherance of trafficking, two counts of witness tampering and one count of retaliating against a witness. Status: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

Kenwaniee Tate was indicted June 19 on one count of conspiracy, one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, two counts of sexual trafficking of a person by force, fraud or coercion, two counts of witness tampering and one count of retaliating against a witness. Status: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

U.S. vs. Justine Reisdorf

Justine Alex Reisdorf was charged June 14 in a criminal complaint that alleged she operated a prostitution business with teenaged girls and advertised their services on the online classified service known as Craigslist. Reisdorf was indicted Aug. 14 on one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of using an interstate facility to promote prostitution. Status: Pleaded guilty Sept. 12 to promoting prostitution.

U.S. vs. Daniel McNeal and a person known only as "New York"

Daniel McNeal was indicted Dec. 12, 2006, on a charge of sex trafficking of a minor. A superseding indictment was filed Feb. 21 against him and an unknown individual. McNeal was charged with sex trafficking of a minor with the intent to have her engage in criminal sexual activity, and he and the unknown defendant were charged with four counts of coercion and enticement to travel to engage in prostitution. Status: McNeal pleaded guilty May 1 to sex trafficking of a minor and one count of coercion and enticement to travel. Status: U.S. District Judge David Doty sentenced McNeal on Monday to 24½ years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release.

DAN BROWNING