Houston bounty hunter, girlfriend indicted on charges of international sex trafficking

Luis De Jesus Rodriguez, 26, known professionally by the nickname Htown Hunter, and his girlfriend, Helen Leon Mesa, 28, are to appear before a U.S. Magistrate on Monday, facing allegations of international sex trafficking. less Luis De Jesus Rodriguez, 26, known professionally by the nickname Htown Hunter, and his girlfriend, Helen Leon Mesa, 28, are to appear before a U.S. Magistrate on Monday, facing allegations of international sex ... more Photo: Courtesy Of FOX 26 Photo: Courtesy Of FOX 26 Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close Houston bounty hunter, girlfriend indicted on charges of international sex trafficking 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

A Houston bounty hunter and his girlfriend have been arrested on allegations they ran an international sex trafficking network that solicited women from South America and forced them into commercial sex, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.

Luis De Jesus Rodriguez, 26, known professionally by the nickname Htown Hunter, and his girlfriend, Helen Leon Mesa, 28, were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury are are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo on Monday.

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A third person charged in the case is being sought and has not been identified by Justice Department officials.

Rodriguez, who runs a business as bail bondsman and bounty hunter, previously had criminal charges against him dismissed by state prosecutors on allegations he'd been one of the masked men involved in a strong arm robbery in a game room in southeast Houston. His attorney, Christopher Downey, said he presented affirmative evidence that Rodriguez was not involved and his record was cleared.

According to court documents, the criminal scheme recruited young women in Colombia and the United States. Investigators say Rodriguez and Mesa told the women they could work as dancers at a Houston nightclub. They told the women Rodriguez was a bounty hunter and worked in law enforcement.

But once the victims arrived in the U.S., Rodriguez and Mesa put them to work a Houston strip club and compelled them to pay back the debt they charged for finding them employment, which ranged from $13,200 to $25,000. The women had to pay about $250 each day towards their debt and the traffickers threatened them and their families if they didn't pay. They monitored the women's movements and cellphones and forced them into engage in commercial sex acts, according to the indictment.

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The defendants are also charged with assisting the victims by giving them visas listing fake occupations that would help them get approved, as well as coaching them about how to pass the visa interviews.

Downey, Rodriguez's lawyer on the 2012 robbery allegations, said he's likely to represent Rodriguez in this case as well. He described Rodriguez as "exceptionally hardworking" and "a self starter" with a very good reputation in the bond business.

"Obviously, these are extremely serious allegations," he said. "I haven't had the benefit of seeing what they're based on, but I look forward to evaluating the evidence. I'm confident the Luis Rodriguez that I know wouldn't commit such an act."

According to the Justice Department, the investigation of Rodriguez and Mesa was a joint effort by the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, Houston Police Department Vice Division – Human Trafficking Unit and IRS - Criminal Investigation along with the FBI as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance and the Attorney General's Office of Colombia. The Harris County Sheriff's Office and Harris County District Attorney's Office also assisted on the case.