Peruvian national sentenced to 7 years for leading sex trafficking conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A Peruvian national who resided in Arlington was sentenced Friday to 84 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for leading a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Fairfax County Police Department, with assistance from the Arlington County Police Department and the City of Falls Church Police Department.

The court also ordered Ruth Antuanet Miller, 35, pay $341,437 in restitution.

According to court documents, she was the leader of a conspiracy that prostituted women in various places in northern Virginia. Miller, along with her co-conspirators, used threats and coercion to induce women to commit commercial sex acts and, once ensnared, coerced these women to continue prostituting. For example, at least one victim incurred a debt to Miller. Miller then placed the victim in a form of debt bondage as a means of controlling the victim and coerced the victim to submit to sex acts with paying customers.

Miller also falsely claimed affiliation with a law enforcement agency and then threatened victims with arrest and abuse of the legal process if victims did not submit to commercial sex acts. She also falsely claimed association with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and threatened arrest and removal if victims did not agree to prostitute. Finally, Miller claimed she had influence with a criminal gang and implicitly threatened victims with physical harm if the victims did not submit to prostitution. Miller then received a portion of the prostitution proceeds.

Miller pleaded guilty to the charges Nov. 19, 2013.