City police said Thursday that 40 people face charges in a human trafficking investigation that dates back to 2009.The investigation started in response to allegations of organized prostitution in August of that year. Law enforcement officers and officials from several organizations got involved in the investigation.Winston-Salem police said the victims were identified as five foreign nationals, including one minor. Twenty-five brothels were identified in North Carolina during the investigation -- nine of those were in Winston-Salem.Police identified seven suspects as having "key roles in the initiation and/or furtherance of organized prostitution and sex trafficking" in Winston-Salem.Those seven suspects are Mauro Aparicio Hernandez, Augusto Justino Valverde-Morales, Carmina Canton, Deysi Suyapa Rodriguez, Fredi Menendes Garcia, Lorenzo Espinal Almonte and Ondina Lizeht Alonso Hernandez.A total of 76 charges have been filed against the 40 suspects. Thirty of the suspects are from Winston-Salem, police said Thursday.

City police said Thursday that 40 people face charges in a human trafficking investigation that dates back to 2009.

The investigation started in response to allegations of organized prostitution in August of that year. Law enforcement officers and officials from several organizations got involved in the investigation.


Winston-Salem police said the victims were identified as five foreign nationals, including one minor. Twenty-five brothels were identified in North Carolina during the investigation -- nine of those were in Winston-Salem.

Police identified seven suspects as having "key roles in the initiation and/or furtherance of organized prostitution and sex trafficking" in Winston-Salem.

Those seven suspects are Mauro Aparicio Hernandez, Augusto Justino Valverde-Morales, Carmina Canton, Deysi Suyapa Rodriguez, Fredi Menendes Garcia, Lorenzo Espinal Almonte and Ondina Lizeht Alonso Hernandez.

A total of 76 charges have been filed against the 40 suspects. Thirty of the suspects are from Winston-Salem, police said Thursday.