A Florida interstate truck driver faces human-trafficking charges after a Central American couple who entered this country illegally told police in Berks County that they were coerced into involuntary servitude, driving his trucks for weeks for no wages.
When the couple detected several “red flags” and demanded their release from a purported commercial driver’s license training program, the trucker, William A. Gutierrez, 63, of Doral, threatened to turn them in to immigration authorities, investigators said.
Gutierrez was arrested Friday afternoon by Bern Township police after the alleged victims, penniless and having not bathed for weeks, called 911 as the truck was northbound on Route 222, saying they were being held against their will, investigators said.
Bern police Detective Joshua Santos provided this account in the arrest affidavit:
Berks law enforcement agencies were dispatched at 4 p.m. for a possible kidnapping. Call-takers were able to track the victim’s cellphone during the 911 call.
The initial call placed the truck where Route 422 meets Route 222 in Wyomissing.
West Reading police Sgt. Wayne Holben located the tractor-trailer on Route 222 just south of the Route 183 interchange in Bern.
A Bern officer joined Holben in pulling over the truck after it exited onto Route 183.
Two people, later identified as the victims, got out and complied with police. Gutierrez was removed from the truck by Holben and placed in the back seat of Holben’s patrol vehicle.
Santos arrived and read Gutierrez his Miranda rights and asked him to explain what happened. Gutierrez said he was unsure, but claimed the man was acting “dramatic.”
He and the couple were taken to the police station for interviews.
Both victims told Santos that they are Nicaraguan natives who entered the U.S. illegally. They were arrested by the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement and released on their own recognizance pending further action.
They aren’t legally married but described their relationship as husband and wife.
Santos interviewed the victims separately.
The man said he was familiar with Gutierrez from his hometown in Nicaragua. He said he followed Gutierrez on Facebook.
After coming to the U.S. and working in Massachusetts as a roofer, he was recruited by Gutierrez for a purported CDL training program. He said he believed the program would lead to a successful career as a truck driver.
He met Gutierrez in Virginia about a month ago.
Initially, the arrangement seemed to work well for both men. The victim would do the majority of the driving, allowing Gutierrez to sleep for three or four hours.
Santos pointed out that the victim did not have a standard driver’s license, much less a commercial one.
After not getting paid for 10 days, the victim started to become suspicious of the arrangement but believed the money was coming.
He started noticing other signs that led him to believe Gutierrez was not running a legitimate training program. For example, Gutierrez would bypass the computer module, allowing them to drive nonstop.
Gutierrez also made him cook and clean. The victim’s wife joined him April 6 after she was promised a salary of $2,000 a week during the training program.
After both victims brought up red flags they observed, the relationship began to strain. On April 13, the victims asked for their money and to end their work with Gutierrez. They said he refused to pay them and that they could not leave or he would have them deported. He also threatened harm to their families in Nicaragua.
The woman told Santos that she felt as if she was held captive for two weeks, since they were in Ohio, for their free labor.
“Both victims stated they were scared of the situation and did not know how to safely proceed,” Santos wrote.
On Friday, they noticed Gutierrez appeared to be in a trance-like state and took a chance by calling 911.
Gutierrez was charged with two counts each of involuntary servitude, tracking in individuals and nonpayment of wages amounting to $2,000 or more.
Following arraignment before District Judge Michael D. Kaufman in Reading Central Court, Gutierrez was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail to await a hearing.
