HOUSTON – A 30-year-old man who resided in Houston has pleaded guilty to several sex trafficking crimes and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Edgar Botello admitted to sex trafficking with force, fraud or coercion and conspiracy to do so as well as possession of child pornography.
“Sex traffickers prey on the vulnerable, including those in the United States without documentation,” said Hamdani. “These victims are often fearful of law enforcement and reluctant to come forward. I praise the bravery of the victims which led to the conviction of Botello and his mother. If you are a victim or know someone who is, please contact authorities. We work side-by-side with victims to bring people like Botello to justice.”
Botello worked with his mother - Maria Botello-Morales - to run a cantina known as Puerto Algre. There, they forced several females to engage in commercial sex in backrooms built specifically for that purpose.
As part of his plea, Botello threatened and intimidated these victims with violence to manipulate them into the sex acts for his personal financial benefit.
The victims reported they had started at the bar as waitresses. However, Botello-Morales used Botello as her representative and enforcer and told them they had to engage in commercial sex. If they refused, she threatened them with violence. The women reported Botello always carried a gun with him and, on occasion, threatened them.
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