Authorities in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, have arrested two Guatemalan immigrants accused of running a brothel and trafficking women. Yudvin and Glin Zunigalatin face charges including human trafficking, deriving proceeds from prostitution, and maintaining a house of ill fame. Glin Zunigalatin faces additional charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sexual battery.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office initiated their investigation after receiving a distressed call from a woman claiming she was being held against her will and had been sexually assaulted. She reported being held captive for several days by two men but couldn't provide her exact location. Using call tracing technology, deputies located the woman in a densely populated area and observed two men acting suspiciously outside a residence on the 1400 block of Lake Ave, Lake Worth Beach.
Upon contacting the men, identified as Yudvin and Glin Zunigalatin, deputies noticed their nervous demeanor. A third man fled the scene when asked to step outside. Deputies were able to confirm the presence of a woman inside the residence and entered, rescuing two potential human trafficking victims and arresting the Zunigalatin brothers.
Initial investigations revealed that both victims were lured under false pretenses and coerced into performing sex acts. One victim was promised a job making scam calls at Miami International Airport, while the other was offered a house cleaning position in West Palm Beach. Both were subsequently transported to the Lake Worth Beach residence and forced into prostitution.
One victim reported being threatened with violence if she attempted to escape. The Zunigalatin brothers are currently being held without bond, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers have been placed on both individuals.
