Chicago woman arrested for trafficking Mexican immigrants

• Gladys Ibáñez Olea was arrested for trafficking immigrants.
• She entrapped four Mexican immigrants into forced labor.
• The victims were two women and two children.

The American dream for four Mexicans, including a two-year-old toddler, turned into a horrible nightmare.

Gladys Ibáñez Olea allegedly helped them enter the country illegally and the subjected them to inhumane treatment, forcing them to work to pay off their ‘debt’ to her.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office explained that in January they received information about a case of human trafficking at a residence, located in the 500 block of Onwentsia Street in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb.

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Police were allegedly tipped off by one of the victims, a minor, who identified himself as Mexican.

Police immediately began investigating to verify his story.

It was not until February 7 when the officers managed to obtain a warrant to search the residence where the victims were supposedly located.

A 19-year-old woman, with her two-year-old son and another 22-year-old woman, with her 15-year-old brother, were the victims.

What police say Gladys Ibáñez Olea did

Upon arriving at the house, the officers rescued the four victims and arrested Gladys Ibáñez Olea, whom the authorities accused of helping the Mexican immigrants enter the U.S. illegally.

During the search of the house, officers noticed that the refrigerator and shelves with food had locks, so they assumed that access to food was limited for immigrants.

The four Mexicans crossed the border in July 2023. The two families didn’t know each other before entering Ibáñez’s house.

She had promised them all homes, safety and jobs, but when they arrived in Highland Park, everything changed.

She took their money and identification

Once they arrived at he home, Ibáñez took possession of their belongings, money and identification.

She warned them that they had to work to pay her back for helping them enter the country illegally.

According to investigators, Gladys Ibáñez Olea forced the two adults and the 15-year-old boy to look for work to pay their ‘debt.’

She forged identification for the latter, which indicated that he was of legal age.

They were forced to give Gladys Ibáñez Ole all their money

The three were forced to give Gladys Ibáñez Olea all of the money they earned.

She threatened that she would have their relatives in Mexico murdered.

They were afraid of what would happen if they didn’t comply, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.

The worst part, according to police documents, was the abuse of the two-year-old child, who allegedly was forced to take constant cold water baths to prevent him from sleeping during the day.

Olea faces numerous charges

On Tuesday, February 13, Olea was arrested and charged with eight counts of human trafficking, plus seven for involuntary servitude.

The investigation against Olea remains active.

She is currently in prison awaiting her court hearing.

The victims are now safe and receiving help, according to CBS News.