Louisiana sex trafficking operation employed WhatsApp to showcase women, authorities report

Sex Trafficking Ring in Louisiana

Federal prosecutors have alleged that three undocumented immigrants from Louisiana operated a sex-trafficking ring using WhatsApp to present a “menu” of women to potential clients, some as young as 18.

Zyla López Oliva, Quilsis Castellanos Killington, and Jesus López, also referred to as “El Perro,” were taken into custody last October for their involvement in the trafficking operation based in Baton Rouge, according to law enforcement sources.

Law enforcement was alerted to the situation through screenshots of WhatsApp messages featuring López sending images of women who were willing to engage in sexual acts. Court documents suggest that these women were coerced into sex with clients who paid between $40 and $60.

Castellanos-Killington and López-Oliva reportedly supported López in various facets of the operation.

Prosecutors revealed that López-Oliva assisted López in transporting one of the victims to the airport in New Orleans. Surveillance footage captured López-Oliva riding in a pickup truck with López near the airport.

Additionally, both Castellanos-Killington and López-Oliva were said to have assisted López in Baton Rouge during times when he struggled to “maintain operations.”

The complaint notes that customers of the sex ring ranged in age widely, from 18 to 60.

During a federal raid on the location of the operation, one victim, who was in a difficult financial situation, allegedly received López’s contact information through a friend. Upon her arrival in Louisiana, she purportedly learned she would have to perform sexual acts for clients. Notably, two victims interviewed were also undocumented immigrants.

One victim recounted that she received no payment on Mondays and Tuesdays, claiming that if a customer paid $40, she would only see $20 of it, with the remainder going to López.

She also expressed that she felt trapped, stating that she “wasn’t allowed to leave the house or tell anyone what she was doing,” fearing retaliation from López if she did.