Police: Second arrest made in trafficking case, illegal pharmacy uncovered

Police: Second arrest made in trafficking case, illegal pharmacy uncovered

(Salt Lake County Jail)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Another man has been arrested in a human trafficking investigation involving a woman allegedly smuggled into Utah from Mexico and forced into prostitution for eight years.

Deciderio Franco Alverado, 83, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday for investigation of aggravated assault, making a threat of aggravated assault, five counts of trafficking of prescription drugs, and five counts of sex solicitation.

Also Thursday, Santos Moyica Mojica, 44, was charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated human trafficking, a first-degree felony; and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, a second-degree felony. Prosecutors say Mojica lured a woman from Guatemala to Mexico in 2008, promising to bring her children later. But he then smuggled the woman into Utah and forced her into prostitution, according to charging documents.

One of those men she was forced to have sex with was Alverado, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.

The woman told investigators that Mojica would frequently take her to Alverado's house, 1415 Indiana Ave., where Alverado would pay Mojica to have sex with her, the report states. Alverado also pointed a gun at the woman and threatened her if she told police what was happening, according to the jail report.

While serving a search warrant on the Indiana Avenue residence, investigators noted that the house had been "converted into a business" that included a counter and a cash register, the report states. The "business" was allegedly selling illegal Mexican prescription drugs, according to the report.

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Pat Reavy

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