Seven people have been arrested by the Miami-Dade Police Department for running a ring of brothels in Homestead that possibly exploited human trafficking victims. 53-year-old Daysi Jaques, known around the neighborhood as "Mami," is believed to be one of the heads of the ring and explained to neighbors that men came in and out her home to buy food. Instead they were buying sex.
The three brothels are believed to have been in the area of the 800 block of Northwest Second Ave., the 1200 block of North Krome Terrace and the 100 block of Northeast 13th Street.
Police have had the homes under surveillance since a least April of 2009. Police reports allege that men, mostly migrant workers, arrived at the door and were met by a house manager. The men then stayed inside for an average of 7 to 20 minutes.
It's believed that the prostitutes may have been victims of human trafficking. They were dropped off at one of the location on a Monday. On the next Monday they would be picked up and taken to one of the other houses.
An undercover cop entered one of the brothels during the investigation, and paid $25 to have sex with one of the prostitutes. The house manager advised the officer he'd have to wait until the woman finished eating before she could service him. At that time the officer gave the "take down signal" and fellow officers moved in to make arrested. Similar take downs were carried out in the other locations.
All in all seven people were arrested, including: Daysi Jaques, 53; Kevin Lopez-Perez, 22; Braghian Navarrette, 28; Luis Paredes-Martinez, 34; Otoniel Zunun-Hernandez, 24; Fernando Lopez Santiz, 27. Their charged range from racketeering to forcing prostitution and sex trafficking.
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