By César Rodriguez, LMTonline.com / Laredo Morning Times

Published

7:52 pm CDT, Tuesday, October 20, 2020

The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified the two suspected sex traffickers who wanted to sell an immigrant to a prostitution ring in San Antonio.

Authorities identified them as Priscilla Angel Villarreal, 40, and Adam Ruiz, 27. Each was charged with trafficking of a person with benefits from forced labor, engaging in organized criminal activity and possession of a controlled substance.

Villarreal was released on bond on Oct. 17 while Ruiz remained behind bars as of Tuesday evening, according to Webb County Jail records.

The case unravelled at about 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 on mile marker 24 of Interstate 35. A trooper on routine patrol pulled over a gray 2012 Subaru Outback traveling south for an obscured license plate.

DPS said the vehicle had a dealer temporary plate that did not give any return. Authorities then found a metal plate that belonged to the Subaru.

DPS identified the driver as Villarreal and Ruiz as the passenger. The trooper asked for consent to search the vehicle after hearing conflicting stories and noticing nervousness on Villarreal and Ruiz, states the arrest affidavit.

The trooper found multiple identification cards, Texas driver’s licenses, birth certificates, credit cards and social security cards with different names. The trooper also found a small cartridge with THC oil that was located in the center console, according to court documents.

“Villarreal was interviewed by (a special agent) and admitted of intending to transport an adult female undocumented Mexican national from Laredo to San Antonio to be ‘sold’ into prostitution,” states the affidavit.

Court documents further state that Ruiz also admitted to intending to transport the woman to San Antonio to be sold into prostitution.

“Both, Villarreal and Ruiz, admitted of having to receive between $500 and $1,000 for transporting said female Mexican national from Laredo to San Antonio, Texas,” states the affidavit.

Villarreal provided a special agent the address of the Motel 6 in Laredo where the woman was staying. Authorities located the woman in Room No. 227. DPS interviewed her and later turned her over to the U.S. Border Patrol for processing.