Houston federal prosecutors have slammed a 45-year-old Honduran national into prison for her role in a sordid sex trafficking ring that exploited vulnerable women across the city. Maria E. Gonzales Munoz, also known as “Merci,” pleaded guilty on January 21, 2016, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, admitting her role in operating a network of sham bars that doubled as brothels.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas, who accepted the plea, sentenced Gonzales Munoz to 151 months in federal prison. The Houston-based trafficker was also ordered to pay $2,145 in restitution and will be required to register as a sex offender upon release. She remains in federal custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
According to court documents, Gonzales Munoz co-owned multiple establishments, including Cocodrillos, which operated under the guise of bars but facilitated commercial sex acts. The venues weren’t just fronts—they were exploitation hubs where women, some underage and illegally in the country, were funneled into prostitution.
One undercover operation laid bare the depth of her cruelty. Gonzales Munoz offered a young female, confirmed to be underage and unlawfully present in the U.S., a job at Cocodrillos. Not only did she approve the girl’s employment, but she also offered to house her and helped her appear older using makeup and fraudulent identification.
The case was the product of a wide-reaching sting by the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) in Houston, a coalition comprising the FBI, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Department of State, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Houston Police Department. Their joint efforts dismantled a trafficking operation that had been running under the radar for years.
Assistant United States Attorney Ruben R. Perez prosecuted the case, underscoring the federal government’s renewed focus on cracking down on human trafficking in major urban corridors. For Gonzales Munoz, the party is over—her life of exploitation has landed her behind bars for more than a decade.
Related Federal Cases
- Maria Botello-Morales Guilty in Houston Sex Trafficking Ring · Texas
- Maria Botello-Morales Guilty in Cantina Sex Trafficking Ring · Texas
- Six Indicted in Child Sex Trafficking Conspiracy – Face Life in Prison if Convicted · Texas
- Gerald L. Brown Jr. Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Minors, Adults · Kansas
- Nathan Oliva Gets 365 Months for Child Sex Trafficking · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Human TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman Trafficking