Sex trafficking brothel madam heads to federal prison

La Feria Club, the sister club where customers met women prostituted against their will, is adjacent to Las Palmas II, along the 5600 block of Telephone Road, that was a former cantina and brothel, where Mexican and Central American women were held against their will, and subjected to beatings, rape and threats of further abuse if they didnâÄôt work as prostitutes Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, in Houston, Texas. They worked and lived in rooms above the bar, which was downstairs and drew thousands of customers. The site is one of the largest sex trafficking rings ever busted in Houston. less La Feria Club, the sister club where customers met women prostituted against their will, is adjacent to Las Palmas II, along the 5600 block of Telephone Road, that was a former cantina and brothel, where ... more Photo: Gary Coronado, Houston Chronicle Photo: Gary Coronado, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close Sex trafficking brothel madam heads to federal prison 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

The madam of a brothel that operated in Houston's East End for years was sentenced to life in federal prison Wednesday for her role as the leader of an international sex-trafficking ring that forced women and girls into prostitution.

Hortencia "Tencha" Medeles, 70, was convicted during a trial last year that exposed operations at Medeles's three building complex on Telephone Road.

PROSTITUTION STING: Houston Police officer among 19 charged in prostitution bust

A cantina was located downstairs, and hidden doorways and staircases led to a brothel upstairs where 17 rooms were rented out for sex.

Read about the disturbing scene that has remained frozen in time after the brothel was shut down in Dane Schiller's first person account on HoustonChronicle.com.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle Hortencia Medeles enters the Federal Courthouse, Monday, April 13,...

The number of men to come through there is staggering, with records presented in court showing rooms were rented out 64,296 during a 19 month period ending in 2013. That is far more people than it would take to fill Minute Maid Stadium's nearly 41,000 seats.

Medeles was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Hittner.

THE BACKGROUND: Raids against sex trafficking ring land 13 behind bars

Houston is a major hub for sex trafficking due to its size, proximity to the border and large immigrant population.

The ring was built on the backs of women and teenagers who were smuggled into the United States from Mexico and Central American by smooth talking pimps who promised them love and marriage.

When they got to Houston, however, they were beaten, raped and threatened that they as well as their families back home would be killed if they did not perform or tried to escape.

"These girls came to the U.S. looking for their American dream, but instead they found their American nightmare," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruben Perez told jurors during Medeles's trial. "It took guts for those girls to come here before you and tell you what happened to them."

THE TRIAL: Woman comes face to face with accused sex trafficker

At least 40 people have been prosecuted in connection with the brothel or other sex trafficking rings that are related to the case against Medeles. One man, Alfonso Diaz Juarez, remains a fugitive and is on the run from a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his capture.

"What occurred here was absolutely modern day slavery," said Special Agent Shauna Dunlap, of the FBI's Houston Division. " These women and young girls were forced to commit unspeakable acts in deplorable conditions inside this cantina, and others," she continued. "The longer Diaz-Juarez eludes justice, the greater the chance more women may be victimized."

The FBI asks that persons with information about trafficking to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373- 7888.

See the above photo gallery for an exclusive look inside the remains of Medeles's brothel and cantina.