SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A 46-year-old Cuban national was sentenced to 17½ years in federal prison for trafficking three women from Cuba into the United States, officials stated Monday.
Yoirlan Tome-Rojas forced the victims to work in strip clubs to repay smuggling debts of up to $50,000 each, federal prosecutors announced.
Tome-Rojas was sentenced to 210 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of labor trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons of the Western District of Texas.
Court documents show that Tome-Rojas arranged and financed the women’s journeys from Cuba to the United States, paying for airline tickets, transportation, hotel accommodations and smugglers who brought them across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Once the women arrived, Tome-Rojas demanded that each repay a travel debt of up to $50,000.
Prosecutors said he forced the women to work seven days a week in strip clubs, confiscated their earnings and prohibited them from leaving or quitting until their debts were paid.
Tome-Rojas transported the women to clubs in Indiana, Detroit and San Antonio, where they were required to surrender all their earnings.
Rather than allowing the women to reduce their debts, Tome-Rojas continually increased the amounts they owed by adding charges for food, clothing, housing, transportation and other expenses.
Two of the victims remained under his control for approximately three months. Despite working throughout that period, Tome-Rojas claimed they had repaid only about $1,000 of their debts.
The women feared for their safety and the safety of their families in Cuba, according to court documents.
Tome-Rojas pleaded guilty June 3 to three counts of labor trafficking.
U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced him to 210 months in federal prison on each count, with the sentences running concurrently.
The concurrent sentences mean Tome-Rojas will serve a total prison term of 17 years and six months, rather than consecutive sentences totaling 52½ years.
Quick Fact Checklist
Defendant: Yoirlan Tome-Rojas, 46, a Cuban national
Federal sentence: 210 months (17 years, six months)
Charges: Three counts of labor trafficking
Victims: Three adult women from Cuba
Travel debts: Up to $50,000 per victim
Forced labor: Seven days a week in strip clubs
Locations: Indiana, Detroit and San Antonio
Financial control: Victims required to surrender all earnings
Guilty plea: June 3
Presiding judge: U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez
Federal jurisdiction: Western District of Texas