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Back in November of 2015, we told about 37-year-old Guatemalan, Rosa Anita Garcia. That was when police were investigating her as an alleged human trafficker. A woman came forward to police with a compelling and ugly story of how Garcia abused her and her mother and forced her to work as a waitress and a prostitute. Well, a jury of 9 has convicted Garcia.

As we reported, she was in charge of Dominguez Bar, which was located on the Otro Benque Road in the Orange Walk District. The human trafficking victim told police Garcia lured her and her mother from their home in Guatemala. Garcia allegedly promised them jobs at a fast-food restaurant she was supposedly running in Belize.

That was reportedly only a ruse because Garcia forced the complainant's mother to babysit Garcia's child. She also forced the complainant to work as a waitress and as a prostitute at the bar. The victim said that in order to get her to comply, Garcia threatened that her children back in Guatemala would be killed if she did not comply. She also said that after prostituting her, Garcia refused to pay them, and she held them captive in the bar.

On February 25th, 2020, Garcia's trial began in the Supreme Court before Justice Antoinette Moore. DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, who prosecuted the case, called the victim to the stand, and she recounted her entire ordeal for the jury to carefully consider. 

In the months leading up to the trial, Garcia parted ways with 2 different attorneys, and when it was time for her to present her defense, she chose to represent herself.

In a statement from the dock, Garcia said that she was the real victim in this case. She claimed that the two women, her accusers, simply showed up at the Bar, and begged her for lodging. She said she took them in and treated them well.

The jury deliberated on the matter yesterday, and ultimately rejected Garcia's defense. They found her guilty of 2 counts of trafficking in persons. The judge has deferred her sentencing hearing until April 7th.

She is now the 4th person to be tried and convicted of the offense in Belize. Among the others include Estella Garcia, who was found guilty in February 2016, and Yolanda Garcia, who was convicted in 2012.