DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - 61-year-old Rita Martinez is in jail on a number of charges, including human trafficking, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault of a child and delivery of a controlled substance.
Martinez and her son, 36-year-old Genaro Fuentes, were arrested by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Agents following a year-long investigation into suspected human trafficking at Rita's Sports Bar in Mission, which has since been closed by TABC while the investigation continues.
The TABC's Chris Porter says they started looking into the bar after reports that she was recruiting young Hispanic women and forcing them to work there.
Court papers say the women were trafficked and repeatedly sexually assaulted, and some of the victims may have been underage.
Porter says "I believe there may have been charges in which she was accused of assaulting some more than once. 31 separate charges, not necessarily 31 different victims, however, we're still getting to the bottom of all that."
TABC Executive Director Bentley Nettles said the agency's investigators are asking the public to come forward with information about the case as well as help identify potential victims.
"While these arrests mark a significant milestone, in this case, our job is not over," Nettles said. "We have strong reason to believe there are multiple victims still unaccounted for whose testimony could play a vital role in ensuring justice is served. We're counting on the public to help us bring this case to a successful conclusion."
Martinez is jailed on 2.8 million dollars bond.