Marietta Madam Guilty of Conspiracy

A Marietta madam pleaded guilty in federal court today to her role in a prostitution ring that brought illegal immigrants to metro Atlanta to work in brothels.

Luz M. Gutierrez, 56, was in an operation involving federal, state and local law enforcement, including the .

She used illegal immigrants as prostitutes and housekeepers, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a news release. The women came from Georgia and other states, including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Massachusetts, to work for Gutierrez and Epifania Sanchez Delarosa, who also was among the eight arrested in December.

Gutierrez also sent prostitutes from Georgia to Alabama to work for an associate, Yates said.

Police in the 300 block of Oakridge Drive in Marietta.

A federal indictment also listed Marietta houses on Seminole Drive and West Atlanta Street and an apartment on Franklin Road as being used by the defendants for prostitution, The Marietta Daily Journal reported at the time.

Gutierrez was indicted Dec. 6 on two counts of conspiracy, two counts of enticing individuals to cross state lines to engage in prostitution, and two counts of encouraging and inducing foreigners to live unlawfully in the United States.

She pleaded guilty Friday to one conspiracy count and could receive a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten will sentence her July 10.

Five other people arrested in the December operation have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, the U.S. Attorney's Office said: Maria D. Rodriguez Hererra; Taina Calderon; Saul Morales Villareal; Romualda Resendiz Perez; and Oscar Rodriguez.

Sanchez Delarosa and Jose Miguel Almonte have not pleaded. They are awaiting a trial date.