SOUTHLAKE (WBAP/KLIF)- Southlake Police and the Tarrant County Human Trafficking Unit rescued a 15-year-old girl from Guatemala who police say was forced to work at a Southlake Restaurant. “She made an outcry to a 16 year old, who contacted police,” said David McClelland with the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office.
McClelland says the teen was brought to the U.S. illegally and was forced to work at the restaurant to pay a $10,000 debt, a debt she owed for being brought into America.
Southlake asked for assistance from the Tarrant County Human Trafficking Unit for the investigation. Deputies arrested 36-year-old Cesar Agusto Valdez-Perez who’s accused of providing fake documents for her to work and dropping the girl off to work at the restaurant all night. “He’s charged with 3 counts .. one for human trafficking of a child-forced labor and 2 counts of fraudulent use of documents and possessing false documents,” said McClelland.
MCclelland said Valdez-Perez is also from Guatemala and has an immigration hold. He posted bond but is now in federal custody.
Police will not release names of the girls because of their ages and will not name the restaurant involved while the investigation is ongoing.
