Who is Maria Botello? Texas matriarch and family pimped Houston bar waitresses including girl, 17, for 13 years
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Four people, including a middle-aged Houston mom, two of her adult children and a nephew have been arrested and charged in connection with sex trafficking crimes in which waitresses working at a Houston bar were forced to perform sex acts on customers.
Maria Botello, 54, her children Edgar Botello, 28, and Yudy Lucatero, 31, along with her nephew Arian Botello, 23 were all charged with sex trafficking after a criminal complaint was filed against them. The Justice Department announced on Thursday, April 1, that the family pimped out an unspecified number of women and at least one girl over a 13-year span from 2007 to 2020.
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Who is Maria Botello?
Maria Botello is the matriarch of the family that has been accused in the trafficking of women waitresses from the Puerto Alegre bar in McCarty St, Houston, Texas, for 13 long years. The senior Botello allegedly set up paid dates with clients who doled out $70 for every 15 minutes with the victims, according to the DOJ.
Edgar and Arian Botello acted as "enforcers who used weapons, threats and intimidation to keep the victims compliant", according to a news release issued by the US Attorney's office on Thursday. The investigation also revealed that Botello's daughter, Lucatero, played a more behind-the-scenes role in the ploy. She discussed the "rules and procedures in relation to the sex trafficking" with her mother.
The household “coerced” women including at least one minor, working at the Puerto Alegre, into having sex with shoppers for cash for a harrowingly long period between 2007 and 2020. Authorities were also able to ultimately identify a victim who was brought to the United States specifically to work at the Houston bar, according to the allegations. While there, the girl, who charges allege was only 17 years old at the time, was allegedly forced to engage in commercial sex, the discharge stated. The restaurant rating and review site Restaurantguru.com gives the bar a 3.9 rating. It states that it is open from 2 pm to 2 am.
All four family members are charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy and could face maximum sentences of life in prison if convicted, or 10 years in prison at minimum. The US Attorney's office states that anyone who may have been victimized by suspected traffickers or who has information about potential victims or surrounding events is urged to contact the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Victims Services office at 713-494-5869 to file a report. Spanish speakers may contact HSI at 1-866-347-2423.