Miami pimp Hugo Gonzalez lavished gifts on his whores to keep them around

A A A Comments (44) By Natalie O'Neill Thursday, Nov 19 2009

Asked about regrets, Hugo first mentions money. The girls are an afterthought. "I never meant to hurt anyone," he swears. He seems sincere, yet still proud of the playboy lifestyle he once lived. "Would I take it back?" he wonders. "No way."

In his hand is a letter from Giggles, the temperamental blonde. It's written on stationery with hearts. He reads it in a soft Cuban-accented baritone: "I just wish things could have worked out differently."

Hugo Gonzalez ran a prostitution house.

April "Diamond" Guadalupe was the enforcer.

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Hugo's father, an inspector for the City of Hialeah, has since "spent all of [his] retirement plan on [his son's] lawyer fees," he says. It seems to have paid off. In six months, thanks to the time Hugo has accrued, he will be a free man.

The girls will likely have a harder time leaving the sex trade. Many still work as prostitutes or strippers. Peaches, the voluptuous brunette, found "a normal job" as a cook, she says, but is having trouble adjusting to the long days and meager wages. Nobody throws tips at her anymore.

L.G. is back living at home with her mom and working as a waitress. The other minor has since been busted for burglaries, dropped out of beauty school, and returned to Vegas.

In the meantime, Hugo's ex-wife, Nataly, has been raising their 10-year-old daughter. "Hugo will do fine for himself," she says. "He's a very smart man."

Pebbles's future doesn't look as bright. On a recent weeknight, she sits on the outskirts of a trailer park in west Hialeah, looking tired. Her sticky-cheeked toddler, crying and clutching his stubbed toe, climbs onto her lap.

Although she dreams about becoming a nurse, she's convinced the only way to support her four kids is by turning tricks or filming porn videos. "How else am I gonna pay for my babies and my bills?"

A week later, over the phone, she tells New Times she just got some bad news: "I'm pregnant again. I'm not gonna be able to work." She pauses as if she's waiting for someone to save her. "I really don't know what to do."

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Jessicabecerra18 12/25/2011 8:38:00 AM

I no Hugo very well he is no pimp all the girls that was with him was cause the wanted t be there but when it came down t going t jail they lied t save there own ass
Jessicabecerra18 09/30/2011 11:04:00 AM

I no Hugo very well he is no pimp all the girls that was with him was cause the wanted t be there but when it came down t going t jail they lied t save there own ass
Anoid 10/15/2010 7:16:00 AM

that hoe is ugly. if thats his top hoe . no esta en nada
genesis 08/28/2010 1:36:00 AM

Personally I belive that this story is misleading and not telling actual sides of the story. the story sounds like too much of a movie and not based on actual facts we want to read news not a book for that i would of purchased one i have been accuanted to mr.gonzalez i do have knolledge to know that he did committ a crime but i also knolledge that these girls have a choice althought this article is caked up but it also clearly states he asked the girl would u like to live here and i think he never said go and do it also further investigating docketts she gave a false id also was calm in the house as for diamond she also enforced the rules why isnt she punished she also states in her diary that she loved hugo and she wanted to do it because of her love for him im sorry but she is old enough to distinguish love so i dont think hugo was that bad also why would he give these girls things and how so truly he was no pimp if he is giving away things to my understanding pimps keep all the money and dont give shit back neverless hugo was wrong on several accounts aswell but did he shoot someone no did he beat these girls no there are real pimps out there who do and we dont care of those but miami dade police decide to enforce on somone practically harmless with a horndog addiction and do an article on this guy do us a favor write stories on finding a missing child or catching a real pimp or maybe writing on how hugo is progressing and recovering and for also these girls had a choice they decided to do it so whos fault is it really and if prostituion is so bad why are cops in strip clubs tipping and why is it legal in Shady Lady Ranch a brothel in nevada hosting it? open your eyes to facts phycology and the truth
annonymous 06/27/2010 9:59:00 AM

why would anyone write a story where they make this thug seem like a sweet boy the article says he was married and that his wife went along with it what a dirty scank, he should be put away for life who the heck does he think he is he looks like mr. potato head.
maria ninsba 06/27/2010 9:40:00 AM

why would anyone want to do a report on such a scum bag?
Bego 12/16/2009 1:00:00 AM

Excellent story!
HugofromJAIL 12/06/2009 4:32:00 AM

HELLO EVERYONE THIS IS HUGO BETTER KNOWN TO SOME AS MR'H I FEEL AFTER 10 YRS IN THE THE GAME I MIGHT NEED TO DEFEND MYSELF HANNY RAMIREZ IS THE GIRL THAT WENT TO VEGAS SHE WAS NOT UNDER AGE AS FAR AS LG SHE TOO HAS NOT EVER BEEN VERIFIED TO BEING UNDERAGE SHE SHOWED ME AN ID (IF FAKE NOT MY FAULT) POLICE KNEW THIS THAT IS WHY CHARGES WERE DROP THOSE OF YOU THAT KNEW ME KNOW THAT IAM A GREAT PERSON .THOSE OF YOU *UCKERS THAT WANT TO JUDGE ME OVER THIS ARTICLE kISS MY *SS COMPARE ME TO OTHER PIMPS IAM A #UCKING SAINT DONT BE JEALOUS BECAUSE I LIVE THE LIFE YOU DREAM ABOUT AND RAPPERS RAP ABOUT I SOON WILL BE HOME IAM NOT MAD AT ANYONE OR HAVE EVER BEEN A VIOLENT PERSON SO I DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT ON ANYONE IAM HAVING FUN GETTING DRUNK AT MY PRISON CAMP I GET TO FLIRT AND HOLLAR AT FEMALE OFFICERS ALL DAY LONG EXTRA DUTY FOR THINGS LIKE NOT SHAVINH GETS ME EXTRA COOCHIE ... P.S I DONT HAVE MUCH ACCESS TO A COMPUTER SO ME A NOTE HERE HUGO GONZALEZ DC# 464494 SOUTH BAY C.I PO BOX 7171 SOUTH BAY FL 33493
$OD$ 12/04/2009 1:47:00 AM

Pebbles needs to start leaving Miami with all her kids, because when Hugo comes out she will get a taste of her own Medicine and I am sure it will not taste good! all that snitching she did, and Hugo only gets 2 years..
marvalous 12/01/2009 6:16:00 AM

there is so much stuff stated that is not true true there and i know becuz i was wit hugo n he isnt this bad pimp guy everyone thinks he is i thank him in many ways for helping me grow n see there is more too life....and it is what u make it out too be so i will always take hugo back in my life in which ever form he comes in...pebbles u dead ass wrong for what u said witch was too much!!!!
Calvis1122 11/30/2009 9:57:00 PM

Its for sure an interesting story, a story of pain and happiness, a story where you find yourself torn between what really is right and wrong. Can this man be wholesome and good; or is it just a perception issue? Is he just able to manipulate these women into believing that he loves them or does he actually love them? Very compelling and gripping in an oxy-moron way!
Kane 11/29/2009 2:40:00 AM

Anything goes when it comes to Hoes. Pimpin' ain't easy.
jdog721@yahoo.com 11/28/2009 12:42:00 PM

i suprised they didn't mention independentgirls.com or hobbygirlz.com they the same type of website hugo ran offering prostitues in broward county
Unacceptable 11/26/2009 4:01:00 AM

Prostitution is NOT a victimless crime when pimps are involved. How anyone could read this article and still believe that is amazing. I do believe it should be legalized, taxed, and regulated in an effort to take steps to protect the women that choose to do it and to minimize human trafficking.
shelark 11/24/2009 5:10:00 PM

Wow....I looking for the end of the story.. I was so into this I don't belive that this isn't a book or a sunday night special ...come on someone get the rights to this and give me a movie. Hugo. bad boy..girls..good luck
Goobersnotch 11/24/2009 6:31:00 AM

What a grave injustice. Prostitution is a victimless crime. And the "minors" were young women only days or months away from 18. There was no harm done here. No drugs, no violent crimes, only a legitimate business made illegitimate by disgusting moral laws designed to force people to act and behave a certain way even when they are not hurting anyone. This is terrible. This man should have never been locked up. Prostitution is a victimless crime.
Frank White 11/24/2009 6:16:00 AM

Its Simple this guy is a criminal, a great contribution to society, and our wonderful justice system gave him 2 years, incredible..He probally mad a deal of a century,, another rat from the gutter...I do believe the newspaper should focus on the needs of our community and better educate and inform the public. The story was well written, no doubt, but lets not forget the facts and the things that can be done to prevent this from happening. The city is soooo corrupt, it is up to intelligent, caring people that have to take immediate action to install a better system of justice, community , educational programs and outreach programs. The local bowling alley closes years ago and 5 strip joints and sex shops open. Wonderful place to raise a family. Without the action and care of the people to change and make it a better place to live on the open as a decent society, the same manipulating, lying, cheating, corrupt city officials along with the uneducated, corrupted enforcers will continue to run this town to sh*t. I recall an article the New Times did about city officials and there saleries back in the late 90's, it was proposterous and informed us on how obviously corrupt our internal local government is. Well some of these officials are still around. We are all one race...Be well and do good.. I enjoyed the comments of Mr. Juan A. Morales from Miami
Bernie 11/23/2009 8:03:00 PM

How fucking depressing this whole story is. As a father of a 19 month old daughter, that scene at the end with the girl at the Hialeah trailer park with the child on her lap, just gut-wrenching. I'm glad there are journalists, real writers, still out there. Thank you.
Adel 11/22/2009 10:17:00 PM

1.) Pebbles mother - you need to take PARENTING LESSONS, no wonder your daughter turned out the way she did, because of you. 'yes its safer knowing my little girl is out at her pimps house haveing sex with all kinds of men& women, aahh, im so proud'...you shouldnt breed. 2.) good article, good story but if you stick to the facts, he is still a sad turn out of a man, of a human being.
Juan A. Morales 11/21/2009 6:46:00 PM

Your newspaper does nothing more than promote a heroic film noir image of 'law and order' narratives. Rather than focusing on the needs of your community, this newspaper runs for no other reason than to weave a propaganda veneer behind which one of the most murderous police units in the country can hide its many crimes. A few years ago i sent a letter criticizing your support for the war on drugs. It seemed to me there had to be an intelligent soul in your organization who would have understood that prohibition is nothing but an excuse to keep a permanent police occupation of the ghetto, as well as a permanent US military occupation of the Andes region. Of course, there is not an ounce of critical thought in your publication. All you do is support Timmoney, law and order and the police state. That is fine. When I write about fascism in our dear city, your newspaper will be the subject of a few paragraphs. My question is, after so many years of police abuse, unaccounted-for murders by police, the theft of our tax dollars and the sabotage of our social services by a dumb cuban-supremacist cleptocracy, how can your publication remain the lap dog of the anti-democratic Miami government? Remember me as the population renegues you and your readership dwindles. Sincerely, Juan Andres. Morales
peaches 11/21/2009 1:03:00 PM

Like I said it once and I will say it again... Hugo did nothing but good for us girls and thats why we ae still proud to say WE WERE HUGOS GIRLS not bitches!!! And some of us will always be there for him!!! This article doesnt say everything hedid for us!!! All of us would have been on the streets if it wasnt or him!!!
Biggggmike 11/21/2009 8:12:00 AM

Another one unlike this but still the same is www.independentgirls.com or esfla.com both have ladies advertising for sex !
dro 11/21/2009 7:35:00 AM

You ask me and I say that perhaps these women had it better financially with Hugo. They may have put him away,but the girls will keep selling themself with Hugo or without.
tearuso 11/21/2009 5:56:00 AM

Okay New Times I'm officially DONE with you! After ten years your sexist front pages have finally brought me to this! I am so sick of seeing women objectified on the front page! Here we have a story about young women who are being pimped out and appearing in porn and the front page has a young woman in a bikini in a CAGE! WTF?!? You have the nerve to call these TEENAGERS whores?! Your titillating artwork is offensive and certainly minimizes what these women have gone through. This is all part of the pornification of America, and no I'm not in the slightest bit religious. If you ever wondered why ten year olds wear pants with "Juicy" on the butt........it's crap like the New Times.
monkbuttz 11/20/2009 10:28:00 PM

Wow, another 40,000 word New Times story that could have been told in 12 graphs.
anonymous 11/20/2009 9:41:00 PM

I just want to say is I knew Hugo and I went to school with him and I feel bad for his parents. They are very good people. In school most of the guys would tease him of how he looked, but he had his ways with girls. With just his personality. He was probably at the wrong place at the wrong time. But I honestly do think that he won't change.I see him going back to his old ways. But you get what you deserve. I also would like to say that the article was very well written. KUDOS to you.
anonymous 11/20/2009 9:40:00 PM

I just want to say is I knew Hugo and I went to school with him and I feel bad for his parents. They are very good people. In school most of the guys would tease him of how he looked, but he had his ways with girls. With just his personality. He was probably at the wrong place at the wrong time. But I honestly do think that he won't change.I see him going back to his old ways. But you get what you deserve.
custom essays 11/20/2009 2:52:00 PM

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Jstar 11/20/2009 11:11:00 AM

great story, well written. in regards to "the brothel across the street," these things happen in every big city, it depends on how hard your looking. maybe it took a nice guy/business man to be successful. is u think successful is profiting the manipulation of women.
amybrown 11/20/2009 8:33:00 AM

Here is a great place ------ Cougarmatching.com ----- It's a premiere cougar dating community for older women seeking younger men and young men seeking cougars. Come in, post a message, a picture of yourself and check out the hot photo galleries. You will find someone you like here...
arale norimaki 11/20/2009 5:50:00 AM

Pebbles's Although she dreams about becoming a nurse, she's convinced the only way to support her four kids is by turning tricks or filming porn videos. "How else am I gonna pay for my babies and my bills?" A week later, over the phone, she tells New Times she just got some bad news: "I'm pregnant again. I'm not gonna be able to work. WTF? Hey pebbles Before having sex, it�s important to know how you can protect yourself from pregnancy and STDs. Get info on birth control and condoms, including how to get them, use them and how well they work. Pebbles this site is for you http://www.ndhealth.gov/dhs/foodstampCalculator.asp
anon 11/20/2009 4:04:00 AM

Poor Hugo? WTF? Send that MF'er back to Cuba. This is straight out of Girlfriend Experience, the Soderbergh movie: Hugo instructed her to have sex with a "fat," "bald" man who wrote critiques of the girls' sexual performances on the website. "As soon as he would write a review," she remembered, "all of the [clients] would start calling."
dee 11/20/2009 1:55:00 AM

I always read the articles because I used to live in Miami. I have to agree with the previous posters, this article is very well written and does humanize the characters. Its unfortunate that women and young girls have to resort to this kind of life style and that children like Pebbles' will also be exposed to abuse and the life style. Its the oldest profession and should be legal so that it can be monitored and regulated. Sex is not going anywhere and if it were legal maybe the state of the economy wouldn't be so bad.
Toni 11/19/2009 11:37:00 PM

Well written story, I would really like a follow up especially once Hugo is released.
Peaches!!! 11/19/2009 1:09:00 AM

HUGO will always be the best person you will ever meet!! He's kind and when I didnt have a place to stay he was always there for me!! I LOVE YOU HUGOOOO Cant wait for you to come home lol
lizzle 11/19/2009 12:26:00 AM

Get your facts straight, in the video it was one assault rifle and a shotgun.
starblaze 11/18/2009 10:55:00 PM

wow "poor hugo"? what the hell?!?!?!? any 'nice' guy (which this world is lacking in) would of helped the girls by getting them to a real safe house or college or something that they have a future in. And this guy is only getting 2 years?!?!? wow shows how determined the government is with protecting females.... And whats worse is this guy is smart and knows how to manipulate broken females that got molested since they were 5years old.. what kinda creep does this? Really he, the stepdad in this story, and diamond should be given the death penalty and be done with it. and all the side people, like those who actually ran the website; life in prison. But i can say this, this is well written for a story.. but not for an article thats suppose to be unbiased and just give use the info so we can make a decision. Not to be manipulated into feeling sorry for hugo (or anyone else).
Nikki Ramirez 11/18/2009 10:33:00 PM

Great Story! Please do a follow up in a few months.
Lourdes 11/18/2009 9:38:00 PM

This is a very interesting article. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time...really captivated me.
SLIM 11/18/2009 8:14:00 PM

AT WORK AND CAME ACROSS THIS ARTICLE ON THE YAHOO MAIN PAGE UNDER LOCAL NEWS... IM A FREQUENT READER. I BROWSE THE HUFFINGTON POST, TIME, MIAMI HERALD, CNN, ECT AND I HAVE NEVER READ A MORE WELL WRITTEN ARTICLE. GREAT JOB! AWESOME ARTICLE
Ruby Rod 11/18/2009 6:12:00 PM

Great story. poor hugo
kat 11/18/2009 9:29:00 AM

This is one of the best articles I have ever read. I agree with the other two posters. Fantastic job.
Harrison 11/18/2009 5:46:00 AM

Wow, is this real? what kind of journalist is this that he writes as if he is writing a bestseller book? Amazing story - the only problem if indeed it is a problem - is that the writer succeeds in humanizing Hugo, making the reader fall in love with him!!
Alfredo 11/18/2009 3:50:00 AM

this story would have made a good book.