GREENBELT, Md. - Jair Francis, age 33, of Wheaton, Maryland was convicted on December 19, 2006 of conspiracy to transport hundreds of women for prostitution purposes to Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and aggravated theft, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Six other defendants have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the prostitution ring and money laundering activities. On December 20, 2006 the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict as to charges against co-defendant, Rigo Diaz, age 31, of Gaithersburg.
According to trial evidence and court documents, the defendants conspired to employ prostitutes, the vast majority of whom were aliens unlawfully present in the United States. The defendants rented apartments and/or purchased homes in Maryland where they operated places of prostitution, and arranged to transport women from various locations in New York and New Jersey to Maryland, typically on Monday mornings, with the intent that these women engage in prostitution. They arranged to transport the women back to New York and New Jersey, typically on Sunday evenings.
Elsy Aparicio, age 31, Eliazor Aparicio, age 31, and their mother, Olinda Aparicio, age 65, all of Gaithersburg, paid Jair Francis for information about law enforcement activity related to their prostitution business. Francis informed these defendants of law enforcement inquiries about prostitution businesses at the Georgian Woods Apartments in Wheaton, Maryland. Francis used the name and social security number of another person to lease, in that person’s name without that person’s permission, an apartment that was used for prostitution.
Francis faces a maximum sentence of five years for the prostitution conspiracy; 10 years for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, and a mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any sentence on the conspiracy charges for aggravated theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
Elsy and Olinda Aparacio pled guilty to conspiracy to transport hundreds of women for prostitution purposes, and Elsy also pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, on November 13, 2006. They face a maximum sentence of five years for the prostitution conspiracy and Elsy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for the money laundering conspiracy. Elsy and Olinda Aparicio are scheduled to be sentenced on January 17 and January 31, 2007, respectively.
Dorinalda Aparicio, age 36, of Gaithersburg, Manuel Jandres, age 39, and Rosibel Jandres, both of Germantown, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to transport women for prostitution purposes. They face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and are scheduled to be sentenced on February 22, February 14 and February 21, 2007, respectively.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; the Montgomery County Police Department; and the Prince George’s County Police Department. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chan Park and Gina Simms, who are prosecuting the case.