Honduran woman sent to prison for Houston sex trafficking

HOUSTON – Federal prosecutors say a 45-year-old woman from Honduras who was an owner of several Houston-area brothels has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson says Maria E. Gonzales Munoz was arrested after an undercover operation revealed she offered for sex an underage girl who was in the U.S. illegally.

Gonzales in January pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. She was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas to 151 months in prison. Gonzales also must register as a sex offender.

Magidson says Gonzales offered to allow the girl to work at one of her bars that was a front for a brothel, would help her appear older through use of make-up, provide living arrangements and get her phoney identification documents.

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This story has been correct spelling of convicted woman to Gonzales.

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