Eight Venezuelan Nationals Facing Federal Charges Out of Nashville for Human Trafficking

(Nashville – WVLT/WOKI) The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee announced the indictment of eight Venezuelan nationals allegedly connected to a human trafficking operation.

The indictment alleges all eight worked together to recruit and bring women from Central and South America to the U.S., specifically to Tennessee and other states, to operate a ‘commercial sex business enterprise.’

Prosecutors allege the defendants targeted ‘young, poor and vulnerable women’ from Venezuela among other countries. The indictment says the women were approached and promised a better life by the defendants, but once they arrived, were told they were to pay their ‘skyrocketing debts’ from travel by having sex with strangers.

“I want to reiterate that human trafficking is a real problem here in our community,” U.S. Attorney Robert Maguire said. “Ignoring it will not make it go away. It cannot live in the shadows; we have to bring it to the light and hold those accountable who would do their crimes in the dark.”

Officials say this was the result of a years-long investigation into this operation with the help of multiple local, state and federal partners. Leaders say the investigation started with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The following people were charged in the indictment:

Yilibeth Del Carmen Rivero-De Caldera (A.K.A. ‘Yibi’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution, Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises, Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
Kleiver Daniel Mota Rivero (A.K.A. ‘Kleiber’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution, Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises, Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, and Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien.
Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca (A.K.A. ‘La Gorda’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution, Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises and Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
Wilmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano (A.K.A. ‘La China’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution and with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises,
Endrik Alexander Morales-Rivero (A.K.A. ‘Endri’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution and with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises,
Ariannys Beatriz Gutierrez-Carrillo (A.K.A. ‘Nani, Nany’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution and with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises,
Frankyanna Del Valle Romero-Rivero (A.K.A. ‘Franya’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution and with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises,
Jesus Enrique Castillo Rodriguez (A.K.A. ‘Chu Chu’): Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation for Purposes of Prostitution and with Conspiracy to Commit Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises,

The indictment says the defendants used hotels in the Nashville area to lure buyers to where they would force the victims to be for sexual favors. According to court documents, they would use online advertising as well as messaging services like ‘WhatsApp’ to determine pricing based on certain favors.

Prosecutors allege that ‘Yibi’ and ‘Kleiver’ used their ties to the Venezuelan gang ‘Tren de Aragua’ (TdA) to intimidate the victims into continuing to engage in commercial sex acts.

“We are depending on the community to make a difference in the lives of very vulnerable women and girls who have been taken from their families under false pretenses, and forced into the worst hell imaginable,” Maguire said.

Multiple representatives from various law enforcement agencies spoke out at a press conference Tuesday, condemning human trafficking and urging community members to remain on alert.

“The trafficking of human beings is abhorrent to all of us,’ MNPD Chief John Drake said. “It’s a modern-day form of slavery. I want to be clear; our police department will always make human trafficking investigations a priority at our police department regardless of where a suspect is from.”

Maguire said they were focused on prosecuting the defendants here in Nashville before any talks of deportation were to happen.

“Specifically the message that law enforcement is sending with this indictment is that human trafficking is an abomination,” Maguire added. “That we will find it wherever and whenever it exists. That we will recover the survivors and we will stop it once and for all.”

Maguire says the dozens of victims in this case will receive victim support services, likely with local and state organizations.

All eight defendants are in federal custody awaiting prosecution. They were arrested in multiple states including Tennessee and Texas.

If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, authorities ask that you call 1 (888) 373-7888. For more information, you can visit this website.