19 Arrested in Multi-State Prostitution Ring

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

19 Arrested in Multi-State Prostitution Ring By Mike Corbin 5/4/2011 U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett announces the bust of a multi-state prostitution ring based in Indianapolis. (WIBC.com photo: Mike Corbin) U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett announced Wednesday the bust of a multi-state prostitution ring based in Indianapolis. Listen: Three Mexican brothers, Jose Luis Hernandez-Castilla, Norberto Hernandez-Castilla and Gregorio Hernandez-Castilla, are the alleged masterminds. Authorities say the brothers oversaw the ring that smuggled women or prostitutes from Central or South America into the United States. They say the ring rotated women who served Hispanic clients in homes or apartment complexes mainly during workday hours.  The women worked in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. Authorities got search warrants and arrested 19 people including the Castilla brothers on racketeering charges Tuesday.  The 16 other arrested reportedly worked as house managers or runners transporting women. Currently, none of the women are under arrest. Authorities say most of those arrested are not U.S. citizens.  They say the suspects used business cards promoting western wear or auto repair services to recruit clients who paid about $40 per transaction. Hogsett says the arrests follow an almost 10-year investigation.