MIAMI – A 40-year-old woman was at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Saturday after one of her victims helped authorities unravel the web of lies she told fellow Colombian women to lure them to brothels in Miami-Dade County, according to prosecutors.
According to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, an ad during the Formula 1 race in Miami Gardens led investigators to identify Elibeth Tovar as the woman who forced a group of women to have sex for money seven days a week.
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According to Fernandez Rundle, the victim, who is a mother, said she was a prisoner in a warehouse brothel and Tovar made childcare arrangements for her 4-year-old son when she moved to Miami-Dade thinking she was going to work for SS Elevator Design.
“Tovar allegedly claimed that the victim owed her money for her daily housing and food needs. The victim was scared, vulnerable, she was illegally in this country, she was afraid to escape Tovar, and so she had to work,” Fernandez Rundle said during a news conference earlier this week describing the case as “modern-day slavery.”
Tovar, the ring leader, worked with Yasdid Ortiz, the chief executive officer of SS Elevator Design, and Omar Jaimes, who was tasked with security, according to prosecutors.
The victim reported she also had people working for her in Colombia since her father received a note saying, “Remember, snitches die.” Detectives found Tovar was using Western Union and Zelle, according to prosecutors.
Records show Tovar was arrested on Tuesday and she is facing charges of racketeering in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, sex trafficking, money laundering, and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution.
A judge set her bond at $527,500, but she has an immigration hold.
Jaimes, 43, also had an immigration hold and was at the Metrowest Detention Center on Saturday facing charges of racketeering, money laundering, and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution. His bond is $517,500.
Ortiz, 52, was released on a $40,000 bond on Wednesday and a judge ordered him to stay away from the victims in the case. He is facing charges of racketeering, money laundering, and deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution.
The Miami Gardens Police Department was the arresting agency after investigating one of the brothels at a house near Northwest 177 Street.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Michelle Ashby Delancy is presiding over Tovar’s case. The arraignment hearing is set for 9 a.m., on Aug. 8. Tovar will have to prove that the proceeds of her bail are not associated with crimes.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Carmen Cabarga is presiding over Ortiz’s case. The arraignment hearing is set for 9 a.m., on Aug. 15.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.