The Madera Police Department broke up two brothels and made five connected arrests this week — two alleged pimps and three women suspected of prostitution who arrived in town a week ago.
Hector Flores, 26, and Vladimir Valentine, 41, were arrested Monday on pimping charges as they allegedly ran the brothels on North H and North B streets.
MPD Commander Dino Lawson said investigations were underway Tuesday to determine if the three women — from El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico whose ages ranged from 25 to 46 — were part of a human trafficking ring.
“They weren’t kept there by force but there were a set of orders that said you could not leave the premises unless they were escorted by one of their pimps,” Lawson said. “It was more by means of fear, which could constitute human trafficking.” ...