SAN DIEGO – this morning local police in cooperation with FBI agents entered property at 1346 Peach St. The owner of the premises Julia Schultz, 46, is arrested, together with attendees Francine Lopez, 22, and Marissa Gomez, 21. Three unidentified infants have been discovered in the building and sent to San Diego Children’s Protective Services.
According to San Diego District Attorney Sam Martin, the women are charged with a number of crimes, including alien smuggling, child endangerment, false imprisonment and violation of the Protection of Victims of Trafficking Act. Julia Schultz is also charged with operating illicit business. Her engagement in smuggling babies from Mexico is beyond doubt. She has sold infants to couples who have failed to receive approval for adoption from legitimate adoption agencies.
“These arrests while significant in ending the criminal and morally repugnant activities of those arrested today, in no way halt our efforts. The investigation is active and we expect numerous other arrests here and in other states,” says DA Martin.
The investigation has continued for 5 years. Our reliable source, a law enforcement official who preferred to remain anonymous, has told that Mexican babies arrive from Baja California. All babies are illegally brought to the U.S. and sold to couples interested in adoption, for about $10,000 to $15,000. It has been discovered that the business brings its owner about $60,000 a month, hence Schultz has managed to sell hundreds of babies through this criminal network with her own home as headquarters.
Who are those mothers willing to sell their babies, and what is the price that makes them persuaded this is the best option? Our newspaper has conducted own investigation thanks to the support of the anonymous law enforcement official. The discovered Mexican mothers appear to be mostly single, poor women in need who have nowhere to go and cannot assure their babies any decent future. These are their stories:
“I have two children, but I’m by myself and hardly making it,” Cipriana Gomez, 26, a Tijuana domestic worker, shares.
“I’m still in school and I live with my aunt. My parents died when I was small my aunt said I was too young to be a mother, that I could have babies when I’m really ready,” Angela Ramirez, 18, a Tijuana student, tells us.
“I ended up pregnant, and that’s when my boyfriend disappeared,” Maria Esquivel, 22, a Tijuana factory worker, says.
The ethical dimension of these mothers’ actions is questionable. But all these women have a lot in common. They lack support, and they are frightened, and they are not sure of their future. They all end up finding a woman – either through a newspaper advertisement or with the help of friends – who offers to pay for medical care and hospital plus some extra hundreds of dollars as a bonus. This woman, a member of the smuggling ring, takes babies and brings them to the United States. Infants are sold to new parents, coming with forged birth certificates and other documents fabricated by unscrupulous attorneys who cooperate with smugglers.
Today’s arrests promise to put an end to baby trafficking in San Diego, but there is still much to be done. The reliable law enforcement official informs that Mexican authorities have promised to make arrests of the ring members Tijuana. The case is not closed until all babies sold for adoption in 5 years are found and identified. Moreover, the motives of the people who buy infants in such a way are still unknown and must be investigated.
