Asbury Park duo helped run prostitution ring that used poker chips for payment, say cops

TRENTON - Eight people, including two from Asbury Park, have been indicted on accusations they operated a family-run prostitution and human trafficking ring out of Asbury Park and Trenton that used poker chips to pay for sex, Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Monday.

A four-month investigation by the State Police Missing Persons & Human Trafficking Unit, Trenton Police Department and Asbury Park Police Department discovered the defendants were running prostitution houses, one on Hudson Street in Trenton and a second on Prospect Street in Asbury Park, Platkin said in a news release.

One of the victims was 17 years old and at least two women were held captive against their will to face repeated sexual assaults, according to the announcement. Poker chips were purchased by patrons, allowing them to choose a woman for sexual activity for a specific period of time.

Laura Macolas-Aguirre, 45, and Edy Villeda-Estrada, 39, of Asbury Park were alleged by the Attorney General's office to be employees of the criminal operation, responsible for letting customers into the houses, handling money transactions and giving them access to the victims, the announcement said.

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The two have been charged with first-degree conspiracy, racketeering, human trafficking, promoting prostitution of a child; second-degree facilitating human trafficking; third-degree promoting prostitution, endangering the welfare of a child and money laundering.

The first-degree human trafficking charge carries a sentence of 20 years without parole to life in state prison, as well as a fine of no less that $25,000, which is used for victim services and deposited into the Human Trafficking Survivor’s Assistance Fund, according to the announcement.

Also charged were alleged ring leader Paulino “Pablo” Macolas-Aguirre, 43, who is Laura Macolas-Aguirre's brother; Daniel Camara-Bonito, 55, and his sons Daniel Handerson Camara-Perico, 31, and Jose G. Camara-Perico, 30; Daniela Camara-Perico, 29, who is Camara's daughter and Macolas-Aguirre's girlfriend; and Efran Melo-Castillo, 30, all of Trenton.

“This was a well-organized operation with every defendant taking part in the despicable crimes against these victims,” said Pearl Minato, director of the state Division of Criminal Justice. “The charges they face reflect the roles they played and we intend to prosecute them fully for their unlawful conduct. Human trafficking is an affront on human dignity that will not be tolerated in New Jersey.”

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The charges stem from “Operation Hudson House” an investigation by the state police's Missing Persons and Human Trafficking Unit that identified victims being shuttled between the two prostitution houses, Platkin said. They also identified a third house on Woodland Street in Trenton that was used as the hub of the operation.

On Jan. 21, State Police saw 10 men enter the Hudson Street house through the back door between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., each exiting between 15 to 20 minutes later, according to Platkin. Later the same night, the State Police T.E.A.M.S. Unit, K-9 Unit, Crime Suppression Central Unit, Trenton Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a search warrant on the house and found it to be heavily secured with a high-level padlock and surveillance system.

Inside, Villeda-Estrada, of Asbury Park, and Camara-Bonito were found and arrested. The 17-year-old victim also was located in a bedroom on the first floor of the house, the announcement said. Each bedroom in the house had a bed, a bedside table with a bottle of rubbing alcohol, paper towels, condoms and lubricant, a trash can and a chair.

There were no personal items except suitcases in the closet and a bicycle in the juvenile's room that were found.

During the search police also seized cash and notebook ledgers with the victim's names, followed by numbers next to each day of the week, suspected to be the number of prostitution clients each had on a given day.

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On May 11, detectives then executed search warrants at various residences in Trenton and Asbury Park, including Macola-Aguirre’s primary residence on Bridge Street in Trenton. As a result, two additional female victims were located, the announcement said. Detectives also found more evidence of prostitution, again in the form of cash and ledgers.

Paulino Macolas-Aguirre, Laura Macolas-Aguirre, of Asbury Park, Melo-Castillo and Camara-Perico were arrested on May 11, during the execution of the search warrants. Following detention hearings, all defendants have been detained and are awaiting trial. Daniel Camara-Perico and Daniela Camara-Perico were not present and are fugitives to date.

Acting Attorney General Platkin, Colonel Callahan, and Director Minato urge anyone who suspects that individuals are engaged in sex- or labor-related human trafficking to report it by calling the Division of Criminal Justice’s 24-hour NJ Human Trafficking Hotline 1-855-END-NJ-HT. Additionally, those who suspect inappropriate contact by persons communicating with children on the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children can contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 888-648-6007.

Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park duo helped run prostitution, human trafficking, cops say