“Boss Lady” convicted of pimping women in Richmond

By Richmond Police Department

On 07-18-2019, 33-year-old Nicole Marie Hernandez was convicted of pimping two women and sentenced to three years in State Prison. The victims were originally intercepted by the Richmond Police while loitering for prostitution in the 23rd Street Corridor on March 21. Hernandez had rented them a room at the nearby Civic Center Motel. Forensic analysis of the victims’ cell phones revealed that the two were working as prostitutes for Hernandez. One of the victims even referred to Hernandez as “boss lady” in evidence recovered from her cell phone.

Human Trafficking Unit Supervisor Dana Filkowski prosecuted the case for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. She emphasized that “just as pimping and pandering crimes don’t respect jurisdictional boundaries, they also don’t respect gender boundaries. Women can be pimps just like men and they will be prosecuted and held accountable just like men.”

If you or someone you know is being pressured or encouraged to engage in prostitution to benefit or help support another person, help is only a phone call away. Contact Community Violence Solutions at 800-670-7273to speak to a confidential counselor. Or visit the Contra Costa Family Justice Centers in Richmond, Concord or Antioch to talk to a Navigator about a variety of services and support available right here in Contra Costa County. The Family Justice Centers are a family-friendly one-stop center serving victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other types of interpersonal violence. No appointment is needed and the centers are located at 256 24th Street in Richmond, 2151 Salvio St., Ste. 201 in Concord or 3501 Lone Tree Way in Antioch.

To learn more about human trafficking in Contra Costa County, visit the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Coalition’s webpage at www.contracostacoalition.org.