Angela Marks, Sex Trafficking Ring, Texas 2026

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Houston Woman’s Sex Trafficking Empire Crumbles

Houston, TX – In a landmark case, a federal jury convicted Hortencia Medeles-Arguello, aka Raquel Medeles Garcia, aka ‘Tencha,’ of leading a 14-defendant sex trafficking ring in Houston, earning her a life sentence in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner, Special Agent in Charge Brian Moskowitz of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), and Special Agent in Charge Richard Goss of IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) announced the sentence, which was handed down by U.S. District Judge David Hittner.

The 68-year-old defendant was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to harbor aliens, aiding and abetting to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The jury delivered their verdict in just four hours of deliberations on April 24, 2015, following a 10-day trial.

The sex trafficking ring, which operated in Houston, exploited 12 victims, including some as young as 14, who were recruited in their home countries and forced into prostitution against their will in the United States. Some victims were lured into the traffickers’ control using fraud and false pretenses.

At the sentencing hearing, six of the victims asked the judge to punish the defendant for the impact she had on their lives. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of 15 real properties and other assets valued at approximately $2.5 million, which were purchased with sex trafficking proceeds. The funds will be used to make restitution to the victims of this heinous crime.

‘Let this sentence send a message that lives are not to be bought and sold,’ said Turner. ‘The Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) seeks to rescue those forced into this modern-day slavery and hold accountable those who wish to profit from the abuse of others.’

The case highlights the significant collective and collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in the fight against human trafficking. The sentence should serve as a warning to all individuals and criminal groups involved in the trafficking of minors and women that they will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

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