Two plead guilty to Imperial Valley Ministries indictments
10 others still face federal charges including forced labor and conspiracy
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Two El Centro residents affiliated with Imperial Valley Ministries (IVM) pleaded guilty Thursday to forced labor conspiracy, and benefits fraud.
Jose Gaytan and Sonia Murillo were among a dozen defendants indicted on charges associated with IVM's fundraising efforts. Those charges included holding participants in the ministry's programs against their will, coercing them to surrender their welfare benefits, and forcing them to panhandle for the benefit of church leaders.
Prosecutors say both Gaytan and Murillo provided them with insight in the church's forced labor conspiracy, and crucial information on the other defendants in the case, particularly IVM's former paster, Victor Gonzalez.
Both say Gonzalez ordered them, and other IVM property directors, to screw or nail windows shut, and to keep doors locked to keep IVM participants from leaving. Gaytan says the former pastor told him it was important to prevent people from leaving in order to increase fundraising proceeds.
Prosecutors say Murillo described being punished for allowing participants to leave. She also says several of her co-defendants told her to tell women Child Protective Services would take their children, or refuse to return them, if they left IVM. Prosecutors say Gaytan told them about similar threats.
Both admitted to enforcing IVM rules by checking in new recruits, taking and using their benefits cards, and forcing them to panhandle on behalf of IVM.
IVM operated a non-denominational church headquartered in El Centro. It owns and operates several group homes in the Imperial Valley. In addition, it runs 30 affiliate churches throughout the U.S. and Mexico.
It claims its mission is to "restore" drug addicts at faith-based rehabilitation homes. and raise money to open more churches in other cities to help other drug-dependent people. Participants say it offered them food, shelter, and recovery resources, and promised to return them home once they'd become sober. Instead, they say, church leaders refused to release them, even after they no longer needed their help.
[RELATED: FBI raids Imperial Valley Ministries]
The FBI first raided the church in May of 2018. In September of 2019 a federal grand jury handed down indictments against Pastor Gonzalez and 11 other church leaders.
[RELATED: Inside Imperial Valley Ministries]
Those defendants, including El Centro residents Arnoldo Bugarin, Azucena Torres (aka Susana Bugarin), Sergio Partida, and Ana Karen Robles-Ortiz (aka Karen Partida) still face federal charges.
A judge will sentence Gaytan and Murillo on March 5. They face a maximum penalty of 5-years in prison and a $250,000 fine on conspiracy charges. They could be sentenced to another 20-years in prison and an additional $250,000 fine for benefits fraud.
U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer was pleased with Thursday's guilty pleas.
“The most vulnerable among us are entitled to the protection of the law,” said Brewer. . “We encourage everyone to help identify forced labor victims in all locations or situations where exploitation is possible.”
His office plans a forum on forced labor in April to educate law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, and community groups that may encounter victims of this under-reported crime.
