Woman arrested for trying to cross two people into US for prostitution

A Mexican woman is under arrest after two individuals told U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo Port of Entry that they were entering the country to engage in prostitution in Houston.

Federal authorities arrested Jaqueline Rios Garcia De La Cadena, who was born in 1992, on Wednesday on a charge of transporting people in interstate or foreign commerce with the intent that the individual engage in prostitution.

The incident unfolded at approximately 10:56 a.m. when the two individuals, identified as “Witness #1” and “Witness #2,” presented themselves for entry at the bridge across three different inbound pedestrian lanes, according to the complaint.

Both witnesses, who held B1/B2 visitor visas, were referred to secondary where “Witness #1” told CBP officers that Rios Garcia organized a trip to Houston for them to engage in prostitution in Houston with unknown persons.

“Witness #2” also indicated Rios Garcia arranged their transportation from Mexico to Houston.

“Witness #1 and Witness #2 indicated that Rios Garcia paid for transportation to the U.S. border, and purchased plane tickets for them from McAllen, Texas, to Houston, Texas,” the complaint stated.

Rios Garcia initially denied knowing the witnesses, according to the complaint.

However, during an interview, she admitted to arranging travel for the witnesses to engage in prostitution in Houston.

“Specifically, Rios Garcia stated she arranged for Witness #1 and Witness #2 to have sex with persons in Houston for $2,400.00 over the course of three days,” the complaint stated.

She also told investigators that she directed the witnesses to enter through different pedestrian lanes to avoid suspicion.

“Rios Garcia admitted she had taken Witness #2 on a prior similar trip to Houston for the purpose of prostitution,” the complaint stated.

Investigators also found messages on her phone with “Witness #1” organizing the trip to Houston, according to the complaint.

She made a first appearance Thursday in McAllen federal court in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker who ordered her temporarily held without bond pending a detention hearing scheduled for next Tuesday, court records show.

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