5 NJ men sentenced in human trafficking case

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Five New Jersey men who pleaded guilty to running a human trafficking and prostitution ring in May are receiving prison time.

Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said Friday that Jose Cruz Romero-Flores of Lakewood and four associates operated brothels in the state.

Romero-Flores, Felix Rios-Martinez and Raul Romero-Castillo were sentenced to five years in prison, while Santos Lazaero Flores-Cruz and Haliro Bueno received three years in prison.

Romero-Flores and other brothel owners in New Jersey and the surrounding states were part of a network to bring women to the U.S. illegally from Mexico and Latin American countries to work as prostitutes, according to Hoffman.

Hoffman said some women had to service up to 40 clients a day and were ferried to different brothels.

The attorney general's office said that many of the women were told that they were going to work as house cleaners or baby-sitters, while others were forced to work in the brothels and had to send money they made back to Mexico.

All of the men are Mexican nationals living in the country illegally and are being held in lieu of bail, according to the attorney general's office.

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