The arrests were part of Operation Cross Country X, an FBI-led nationwide crackdown on human trafficking.
FAIRFIELD -- Seven people are facing prostitution-related charges stemming from busts made in Fairfield this month as part of a nationwide FBI operation targeting human trafficking activities.
In a statement Thursday, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna said the seven were arrested Oct. 13 in an operation that also involved police from North Caldwell, West Caldwell and Essex Fells, along with investigators from the Essex and Hudson County prosecutors' offices and the FBI.
Police identified those arrested as the following:
- Ezabella Aspilaire, 35, of Orange, on charges of engaging in and promoting prostitution.
- Charday S. Stephens, 27, of Oakland, California, on charges of engaging in and promoting prostitution.
- William Fabricio Avila, 36, of Newark, on a charge of promoting prostitution.
- Belays Brito-Echavarria, 34, of Bronx, New York, on a charge of engaging in prostitution.
- Marvin Castillo, 53, of North Bergen, on a charge of promoting prostitution.
- Miguel Rivera, 27, of North Bergen, on a charge of promoting prostitution.
- Rechi Marei Robles, 26, on a charge of engaging in prostitution.
Police said the arrests were part of Operation Cross Country X, an FBI-led human trafficking crackdown that involved state and local law enforcement agencies across the country. Authorities said 29 people were arrested in New Jersey alone as a result of the operation.
"The Fairfield Police Department will continue to join with the FBI in helping them bring to justice anyone engaged in human trafficking," Manna said in the statement.
Police said all seven were released on their own recognizance pending future court appearances.
Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.