McHenry Co. Man Charged In Suburban Brothel Operation: Prosecutors

WOODSTOCK, IL — A Woodstock man is among six people charged following a 15-month investigation into alleged prostitution operations at multiple suburban brothels, which included locations in West Dundee, South Elgin and Aurora, authorities announced.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office said six men were arrested July 16 during a coordinated enforcement operation led by the office’s Human Exploitation Unit. The operation involved law enforcement agencies across Kane, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago and Cook counties.

According to prosecutors, the defendants are accused of operating brothels where they arranged clients, controlled residential apartments used for prostitution and profited from the activity.

The locations identified in court documents are located at:

• The 500 block of Ashland Avenue in Aurora
• The 800 block of Village Quarter Road in West Dundee
• The 800 block of Kishwaukee Street in Rockford
• The 300 block of Ann Street in South Elgin

Authorities allege some defendants also used false names on rental leases connected to the alleged brothel operations.

Among those charged is Abisahit Del Angel Hernandez, 40, of the 600 block of Leah Lane in Woodstock. Hernandez faces felony charges of promoting prostitution near a school and forgery.

The five other men charged are:

• Gustavo A. Perez Cardoza, 35, of Aurora
• Hugo F. Jaimes-Ramirez, 43, of Aurora
• Kenneth E. Figueroa Castro, 29, of Belvidere
• Delfino Torres-Navarro, 59, of Hanover Park
• Ricardo Hernandez Lux, 33, of Elgin

The charges include promoting prostitution for profit, promoting prostitution near a school and forgery.

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser said the investigation was the first major effort of the office’s Human Exploitation Unit, which launched in January 2025 to investigate and prosecute human trafficking offenses, including sex and labor trafficking.

“When we created the State’s Attorney’s Office Human Exploitation Unit, the hope was that we could investigate and prosecute those that commit sex or labor trafficking,” Mosser said in a statement. “These defendants were taking advantage of vulnerable women and exploiting them for financial gain.”

Kane County Undersheriff Amy Johnson said the operation demonstrates the importance of agencies working together across jurisdictions.

“Human trafficking has no boundaries, and neither should our response,” Johnson said.

Authorities said the investigation remains part of an ongoing effort to identify and prosecute individuals accused of exploiting victims.