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North Charleston, SC.- Two women who are arrested in the Lowcountry, South Carolina area are facing charges in a labor trafficking case involving four children.
Elvira Lopez Aguilar appeared in court on Thursday, April 20 for a bond hearing in Dorchester County. She is one of the suspects in the case led by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) that is accused of forcing her four children, ages 11 to 16, to work. Against his will.
“These children were threatened with force or the use of forcesaid Megan Raymer of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
According to SLED agent Logan Fey, the boys worked late into the night cleaning at Citadel Mall Stadium 16.
“The children worked from eight to ten at night. Sometimes until two or four in the morningFey said during the hearing.
Fey said SLED found out about the case when the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office became involved with the children at their schools. She explained that they showed obvious signs of neglect and abuse.
Raymer, who also spoke during the hearing, said López Aguilar abandoned his children and left them living in deplorable conditions.
OTRTO ARRESTED
The other suspect in this case, Marisol Hernandez Perianez, faces a series of labor trafficking charges. She is the owner of Marisol’s Cleaning Services LLCthe business for which the four minors allegedly worked.
Her lawyer claimed that she did not know about the abuse.
WORRYING ISSUE
“This labor trafficking case really shows two things, that labor trafficking is happening in our area. The need for resources in this regard is a great needsaid Brooke Burris, co-chair of the Tri-Counties Human Trafficking Task Force.
“I think it just shows the need for resources for migrant victims in our community, the need for awarenesssaid Julia Poppell, who is part of the task force.
DEFENDED
Lopez Aguilar was charged with four counts of Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child, four counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and four counts of Human Trafficking, Victim Under 18 – 1st Offense.
Hernandez Perianez faces four counts of Trafficking in Persons, Victim Under 18 – 1st Offense and four counts of Trafficking in Persons, Use of Business in Violation of Article 19.
the bail of Lopez Aguilar was set at $300,000 and the Hernandez Perianez at $40,000. Both women will appear in court on 19th of June.
The children are being cared for by the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case.
The investigation into this case involved members of the State of South Carolina and the Tri-Counties Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, the South Carolina Department of Social Services, the State Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Carolina Department of Labor, Bureau of Immigration, Child Labor and Wage, Charleston Homeland Security Investigations, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, North Charleston Police Department, Charleston Police Department, and the Center Dorchester Children’s Advocacy.
If you have information about a possible human trafficking case, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or send a text message to 233733.
