Hector Duarte, Sex Trafficking, Wisconsin 2025

Defendant Charged with Sex Trafficking and Interstate Transportation for Prostitution

In a move to combat human trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced the indictment of Hector Duarte, a 35-year-old Union Grove man, for sex trafficking and interstate transportation for prostitution.

Duarte is alleged to have used force, threats of force, and fraud to cause an adult victim to engage in commercial sex acts between approximately May 31, 2025, and June 25, 2025, in Wisconsin and Illinois. Duarte is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but upon conviction, he would face a mandatory minimum 15 years and up to life in prison.

Duarte was ordered detained pending his trial.

U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel emphasized the importance of coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement and social service providers in combating human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is the most insidious and difficult to uncover among the crimes we see,” Schimel said. “Traffickers rob survivors of their very dignity by exploiting vulnerabilities like addiction, poverty, and the basic need for human connection. They often commit their crimes in plain sight right before our eyes, because survivors are terrified of seeking help based upon the extreme violence and psychological manipulation to which they are subjected.”

The National Human Trafficking Hotline number for tips and requests for assistance is 888-373-7888.

Since the inception of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000, dozens of traffickers have been prosecuted in the Eastern District of Wisconsin for sex trafficking and forced labor. District court judges in the Eastern District of Wisconsin have often observed at sentencing hearings that trafficking cases are among the most serious of offenses charged in federal court, and the sentences imposed reflect this.

In a recent and significant sex trafficking trial, Samuel Spencer, a 52-year-old Milwaukee man, was convicted of trafficking numerous Milwaukee area women over a 15-year period by manipulating their cocaine and heroin dependencies, controlling them financially, and physically abusing them. Spencer was convicted at trial of all counts and sentenced to 45 years in federal prison.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking and protecting survivors. “This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited,” Bondi said.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Human Trafficking

Sun Sen, Harboring Illegal Aliens, Guam 2018

May 21, 2018

Human Trafficking

Raymorris Asencio, Human Trafficking, Mississippi 2018

Jul 27, 2018

Human Trafficking

Yudelvis Alberto Jimenez-Elvirez, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2015

Apr 5, 2016

Human Trafficking

Julia Resendez, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2015

Apr 30, 2015