WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) --A man who forced Mexican girls and
women to work as prostitutes until they paid off smuggling debts pleaded
guilty to federal slavery charges, prosecutors said.

Hugo Cadena-Sosa and members of his family were charged in 1998 with
conspiring to lure immigrants to Florida and the Carolinas with promises of good
jobs and better lives, then holding them as sexual slaves in brothels until they paid a
$2,000 smuggling fee, according to prosecutors.

Cadena-Sosa had fled to Mexico but was arrested for illegal re-entry into the United
States in May. He entered the plea Thursday in U.S. District Court in West Palm
Beach.

Cadena-Sosa faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Seven other defendants have pleaded guilty to civil rights conspiracy charges and
are serving sentences of up to 10 years in prison.

  Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.