Diana Chaparro Contreras, 33, and Sandra Peralta Aguilar, 50, face multiple charges including human trafficking and profiting from arranging prostitution. Both women are currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail following an investigation into illegal operations at a Lake Worth Beach residence.
The case originated in January when a California woman responded to a housekeeping job posting on Indeed. She was offered $35 per hour and accepted an offer to relocate to Florida with airfare provided. Upon arriving at the home on S. M Street in Lake Worth Beach, her identification documents were confiscated. The victim reported that her passport, Social Security card, and work permit were taken and kept from her. She told investigators she was threatened with deportation and coerced into sexual activity with men who visited the property. The victim was confined to a room with boarded windows and claimed she was forced to have sexual contact with seven men before escaping. She used a lamp to break through plywood covering the window to get out. The victim also reported seeing what may have been a 15-year-old girl present at the location.
During the extended investigation, law enforcement observed numerous men entering and leaving the residence. In April, investigators discovered the operation had relocated to another site less than a mile away. Financial records showed that Chaparro was involved in handling more than $177,000 in cash and bank transactions related to the operation.
Laura Cusack, an advocate with the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches, emphasized that trafficking operations can exist anywhere in the community. "It doesn't just happen in a vacuum or in the underground world. It could happen in the house next door," Cusack said. She stressed that community awareness is vital for identifying these operations. Cusack noted that suspicious activity such as unusual high traffic patterns can be warning signs. She called on residents to report suspected trafficking to authorities, saying that one report can make a significant difference. "These predators are in our community. They can target our children so it just takes one person to make the call, report what they see and that can make all the difference," Cusack said.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking activity should contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. For additional resources and information, the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches can be reached at 561-267-5783 or htcoalitionpb@gmail.com.