Esthela Clark, 47, pleaded guilty to a single count of forced labor after paying smugglers $3,000 to have a Mexican woman smuggled into the United States.
According to reports, Clark held the unidentified woman as her captive for two years and tryed to impregnate her with syringes containing her boyfriend’s sperm.
Clark had allegedly paid “coyotes” $3,000 in 2012 to bring her a 22-year-old woman across the border. The victim was given false information of the agreement, she was promised $4,000 to give service as a surrogate for Clark and her boyfriend and was told the process would be assisted and overseen by medical professionals.
The victim was not allowed to leave Clark’s one-bedroom condominium in Jacksonville, telling the woman the neighborhood was dangerous and that she “would most likely be killed” if she goes outside.
When nine months of attempted conceiving were unsuccesful, the woman said Clark became physical and psychologically abusive towards her and forced her to perform “domestic labor.” Clark also had her working in a food establishment and kept her earnings. The victim also told investigators that Clark had also forced her “to have sex with two complete strangers through threats of force and coercion,”
Local authorities got involved when one of the victim’s acquaintance tipped them off the ordeal.
