3 arrested in human trafficking operation involving brothels, money laundering: Prosecutors

Three people who allegedly led a human trafficking operation in Miami-Dade that involved neighborhood brothels and money laundering and spanned from Colombia to Florida and other parts of the United States have been arrested, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Alleged ringleader Elibeth Tovar, 41; Omar Jaimes, 43; and Yasid Paul Ortiz, 52, are all facing charges related to corruption, money laundering and prostitution under the RICO act. Tovar faces an additional charge of human trafficking. 

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle broke down the operation at a news conference on Wednesday, saying it mainly targeted the city of Miami Gardens. There, the defendants allegedly established neighborhood brothels, exploited victims by making them have sex for money, and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits gained through digital prostitution. The money was then sent back to Colombia.