Fort Myers mom off hook on
human trafficking
Woman faces only child abuse charges
By JANINE ZEITLIN •
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•
November 23, 2010
1:10 A.M. — The state is not going forward with
human trafficking charges lodged against a Fort
Myers mother, who was arrested by Lee deputies last
month.
The state attorney's office announced in a Lee
County courtroom Monday that it will pursue child
abuse charges against Noemi Ramos, 40, who has
pleaded not guilty, records show.
"Sometimes they'll charge you with everything they
can, and the prosecutor made the correct decision
in not going forward with that," said Peter Aiken, the
mother's defense attorney. "Sometimes, it's not what
it first appears."
At the time of her arrest, investigators said Ramos
forced her four daughters, ages 9 to 15, to buy
drugs, and beat them with cords and hangers. The
15-year- old told officials her mother forced her to
prostitute herself, reports said.
There was insufficient evidence for trafficking
charges under Florida law, said Samantha Syoen, a
state attorney's office spokeswoman.
Syoen said she could provide no details because it's
an active case.
Ramos has admitted to a drug problem in
dependency court, and she also has said she
wanted to get her children back.
Human trafficking, often called modern-day slavery,
can be hard to prove, said Mary Lewis, who chairs
the Southwest Florida Coalition Against Human
Trafficking. She was not surprised the charges
weren't moving ahead.
"The most important part of it is not to get human
trafficking on the bill; it's about getting the bad
guy," Lewis said.
Prosecutors will often choose an easier crime to
pursue due to the complex nature of human
trafficking, said Nola Theiss, executive director of
Lee County-based Human Trafficking Awareness
Partnerships.
Aiken said the charges were largely based on the
15-year-old's statements.
"A lot of it is based on the statement of one
daughter, and she is a deeply troubled child," he
said.
The attorney said he spoke with Ramos' 20-year-old
daughter, who lived in the home 18 years.
"She said none of that took place," he said. "It may
be a rush to judgment."
Aiken said he is still conducting his own
investigation and plans to interview all of the
daughters.
