Gang Member "La Barbie" Allowed to Remove Ankle Monitor Before Being Caught Running Hotel Sex Prison
Estefania "La Barbie" Primera, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, was permitted to remove her ankle monitor a year before authorities caught her orchestrating a lawless and brutal sex trafficking operation at a border hotel, according to sources.
Allegedly, federal immigration officials allowed Primera, a suspected Venezuelan sex trafficker, to discard her tracking device after she complained that her belongings, including the monitor's charger, had been stolen. This leniency granted to "La Barbie" raises serious questions about the oversight of individuals involved in criminal activities.
Subsequently, Primera was apprehended by law enforcement in El Paso, Texas, where she was accused of managing a sex trafficking ring within the confines of the Gateway Hotel. Shockingly, the hotel had been overtaken by members of the Tren de Aragua gang, adding a layer of complexity to the criminal activities unfolding within its walls.
Reports indicate that Border Patrol agents had initially released Primera into the United States shortly after she illegally crossed the El Paso border in the company of her family members in August 2023. Following her entry, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fitted her with an ankle monitor as a precautionary measure.
However, just weeks after her release, Primera ceased charging her ankle monitor and pleaded with ICE officers overseeing her case to have the device removed entirely. This request, which was granted, allowed "La Barbie" to operate without the constraints of electronic monitoring.
With newfound freedom from the ICE tracking device, Primera reportedly exploited victims at the Gateway Hotel, an establishment that has since been shut down by local authorities due to the illicit activities taking place under her command.
Disturbing court documents reveal harrowing testimonies from victims, with one individual alleging that Primera drugged her with a fentanyl-laced pill and facilitated a series of rapes while she was unconscious. The victim suffered severe injuries as a result of the traumatic ordeal.
Furthermore, when the victim attempted to escape, "La Barbie" purportedly resorted to physical violence, forcibly returning the victim to the hotel by employing physical aggression in the form of punches and kicks, as detailed in the legal filings.
Primera's arrest unfolded in late September outside the Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, a sanctuary for migrant arrivals. She was accompanied by her five young children, whom she allegedly exploited by involving them in drug trafficking activities.