Honduras Man Arraigned in Essex County for Sex Trafficking, Stalking

A Newark Grand Jury has indicted a Honduras man for sex trafficking and stalking a victim in Essex County and elsewhere.

Hermen Zuinga Castro, 31, is accused of recruiting an unnamed victim to engage in a commercial sex act in Essex County and elsewhere in 2011, US States Attorney Paul Fishman stated in a press release. Castro is also charged with placing the victim under surveillance with the intent to kill, injure, and harass the victim.

Castro, who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally, is also known as “Helmer Zuniga,” “Herman Zuniga,” and “Helmer Mendoza,” Fishman said in the press release. The States Attorney’s statement noted that Castro was also charged by complaint with the same crimes in July of 2013.

Castro allegedly began stalking the victim in 2007 while they were both living in Honduras, according to the July 2013 release provided by the State’s Attorney’s office.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the victim left Honduras with Castro in 2007, fearing that Castro would kill her family.

The documents allege that Castro forced the victim to work as a prostitute and housekeeper, repeatedly raping, beating and threatening her, and branding her abdomen with the letter “H.”

According to the release, the victim was rescued in 2009 when Castro was deported for a traffic violation. Federal agents arrested Castro in 2011 at Newark Penn Station while he was attempting to make contact with the victim, the release stated.

Castro is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, Jan. 15 on the Jan. 9 indictment, Matthew Reilly, Deputy Public Affairs Officer reported. According to the 2013 release, if convicted, Castro could face a maximum penalty of life in prison for sex trafficking, and a maximum of 5 years for the stalking charge.

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