As the AP reports, the conspiracy began in 2009, according to the indictment, with organizers bringing poor women who spoke little English from Bangkok to several U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Washington, Houston, and Dallas. The organization threatened to harm the women’s families in Thailand if they escaped.

“The victims were isolated. They typically did not have the ability to choose who they have sex with, what sex transactions they would engage in, or when they would have sex,” the indictment said.

The women were forced to have breast implants and the cost of the surgery would be added to their bondage.

Many of the arrests were the “house bosses” who ran the day to day operations of the modern day slave quarters scattered throughout the US. The money launderers were also arrested.

While many high-level arrests were made, the indictment noted that those at the top of the trafficking ring remain at large. Although, one of the bosses of the organization was arrested in the first phase of the investigation and is in custody in Belgium. Authorities are working to extradite her to the U.S., Khu said, according to the AP.

Sources:

Seventeen Individuals Indicted for Respective Roles in Human Trafficking Scheme that Exploited Hundreds of Thai Women for Commercial Sex in the United States: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/seventeen-individuals-indicted-respective-roles-human-trafficking-scheme-exploited-hundreds

Charges: Sex traffickers took hundreds from Thailand to US: https://www.apnews.com/8a819c75cd594de7b388b0699ed63e41?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=APCentralRegion

Largest Sex Trafficking Bust in US History, Dozens of High-Level ‘Slave Traders’ Indicted: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/largest-sex-trafficking-ring-prosecution-us/#mWOq5eHmb24EC1ZJ.99

Hopefully, "following the money" will lead to the wider investigations.