Chicago woman sentenced for running brothel

A Chicago woman who operated a brothel and forced young women into the sex trade has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Cook County prosecutors said Tuesday that 40-year-old Rubicela Montero pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor. Montero is accused of intimidating girls as young as age 16 into working for her in the city’s Pilsen neighborhood.

Prosecutors say the investigation started when one of the victims called the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. The victim reported that Montero was forcing young girls to prostitute themselves at the brothel.

Montero was arrested when a victim agreed to have sex with an undercover officer for money. Montero admitted to scheduling clients, negotiating prices and threatening victims when they tried to stop working for her.