Alexander Villatoro Moreno, Racketeering Conspiracy, Florida 2023

A 53-year-old Mexican national, known as Quichi, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in federal court in Tampa, Florida. Alexander Villatoro Moreno, one of the masterminds behind the scheme, admitted to orchestrating the forced labor of Mexican workers in the United States between 2015 and 2017.

According to court documents, Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants operated Los Villatoros Harvesting (LVH), a farm labor contracting company, which functioned as a criminal enterprise. The company victimized Mexican H-2A workers who were recruited to work in the United States on short-term agricultural visas.

Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants charged workers exorbitant recruitment fees, lied to them about pay, working conditions, and reimbursement, and subjected them to long hours of physically demanding labor for far less pay than they were entitled to under the law. The workers were also coerced into providing labor through various means, including debt, passport confiscation, verbal abuse, and threats of arrest, jailtime, and deportation.

When officials began investigating, Villatoro Moreno obstructed the federal investigation by helping to prepare false payroll information and distributing fake reimbursement receipts to the victims. His actions were part of a larger scheme to conceal underpayments to the workers and make it appear that LVH was complying with the law.

In total, Villatoro Moreno's four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in the scheme. Bladimir Moreno, his brother, owned LVH and pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Efrain Cabrera Rodas and Christina Gamez, LVH supervisors, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the RICO Act, while Guadalupe Mendes Mendoza, another LVH supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct a federal investigation.

The Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, investigated the case. The Task Force received assistance from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Colorado Legal Services Migrant Farm Worker Division, Legal Aid Services of Oregon Farmworker Program, and Indiana Legal Services Worker Rights and Protection Project.

Villatoro Moreno faces prison time and restitution as a result of his guilty plea. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The Government of Mexico, including the Fiscalía General de la República, has assisted in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

The case is a stark reminder of the human trafficking and exploitation that can occur in the agricultural industry. It highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and community groups to protect vulnerable workers and bring perpetrators to justice.

The exact sentence or outcome for Villatoro Moreno has not been determined, but he will be sentenced at a later date. He is currently in custody pending sentencing.

The case against Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants serves as a warning to those who would engage in such crimes. The consequences of human trafficking and exploitation are severe, and those who perpetrate such acts will be held accountable.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and community groups. Their work has helped to bring justice to the victims of this crime and to prevent similar crimes from occurring in the future.

Villatoro Moreno's guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it brings the defendant one step closer to accountability for his crimes. The sentencing phase of the case will determine the exact sentence or outcome for Villatoro Moreno.

The case against Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants is a complex one, involving multiple defendants, multiple crimes, and multiple jurisdictions. The investigation and prosecution of the case have been ongoing for several years, and it is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the investigators and prosecutors involved.

The exact date of Villatoro Moreno's sentencing has not been determined, but it is expected to take place in the coming months. Until then, he will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The case against Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants has significant implications for the agricultural industry and for the protection of vulnerable workers. It highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and community groups to prevent human trafficking and exploitation.

Villatoro Moreno's guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it brings the defendant one step closer to accountability for his crimes. The sentencing phase of the case will determine the exact sentence or outcome for Villatoro Moreno.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and community groups. Their work has helped to bring justice to the victims of this crime and to prevent similar crimes from occurring in the future.

Villatoro Moreno faces prison time and restitution as a result of his guilty plea. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The case against Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants serves as a warning to those who would engage in such crimes. The consequences of human trafficking and exploitation are severe, and those who perpetrate such acts will be held accountable.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and community groups. Their work has helped to bring justice to the victims of this crime and to prevent similar crimes from occurring in the future.

The exact sentence or outcome for Villatoro Moreno has not been determined, but he will be sentenced at a later date. He is currently in custody pending sentencing.

Villatoro Moreno's guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it brings the defendant one step closer to accountability for his crimes. The sentencing phase of the case will determine the exact sentence or outcome for Villatoro Moreno.

The case against Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants is a complex one, involving multiple defendants, multiple crimes, and multiple jurisdictions. The investigation and prosecution of the case have been ongoing for several years, and it is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the investigators and prosecutors involved.

The exact date of Villatoro Moreno's sentencing has not been determined, but it is expected to take place in the coming months. Until then, he will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The case against Villatoro Moreno and his co-defendants has significant implications for the agricultural industry and for the protection of vulnerable workers. It highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and community groups to prevent human trafficking and exploitation.

Villatoro Moreno's guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it brings the defendant one step closer to accountability for his crimes. The sentencing phase of the case will determine the exact sentence or outcome for Villatoro Moreno.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, government organizations, and community groups. Their work has helped to bring justice to the victims of this crime and to prevent similar crimes from occurring in the future.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mexican-national-pleads-guilty-racketeering-conspiracy-involving-forced-labor-mexican