A case of alleged human trafficking involving a Cuban citizen has once again captured public attention in Oklahoma, being highlighted as one of the most important investigations in the career of Jeni Rosellini, the new police chief of Fairland.
A profile published this week by the television station KSNF Joplin reviews the career of the officer and recalls that it was she who, in November 2023, arrested Naidel Morales Marín, a 29-year-old Cuban traveling with a 16-year-old girl, also of Cuban nationality, under circumstances that led to a human trafficking investigation.
According to FourStatesHomepage.com, Rosellini intercepted the vehicle when it was driving recklessly through Fairland. The couple was traveling from Chicago to Texas.
What initially seemed like a traffic violation took a turn when the accounts given by Morales Marín began to raise suspicions.
Ottawa County Prosecutor Clint Ward explained that the detainee made several contradictions during the interrogations.
"At first, he told us that the girl was his cousin, then he changed his story and said she was his girlfriend," he recounted.
According to court documents, the suspect even tried to justify the situation by claiming that "he was married, but in Cuba it's customary for a man to be married and have seven girlfriends."
Ward also confirmed that neither Morales Marín nor the adolescent spoke English fluently and that both had entered the United States illegally.
The minor was placed under protection and transferred to an international juvenile center whose location was not disclosed, in southern Oklahoma.
The accused never showed up before the court again
Morales Marín was incarcerated with a bail of $100,000 and faced charges of human trafficking, as well as driving without a license, crossing into oncoming traffic, and reckless driving.
However, the judicial process remained unresolved. Although he was later taken into custody by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the defendant never appeared before the court, and since January 2024, there has been an arrest warrant issued against him.
Her disappearance raised questions about the coordination between the judicial authorities of Oklahoma and the federal immigration agencies responsible for her custody.
The new police chief brings the case back into the spotlight
The case has resurfaced because Rosellini has just taken over as the head of the Fairland Police, a community of about 1,200 residents in Ottawa County.
The Board of Directors of the municipality appointed her in June to replace Dan Cook, who submitted his resignation effective June 30.
With 21 years of experience in law enforcement, Rosellini began her career as a jailer in the Benton County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas. In 2020, she moved to Oklahoma, where she has served in various police departments in the region.
Her arrival in the position has not been without challenges. Just eight days after taking on the leadership role, she had to coordinate the response to the robbery at the First National Bank of Fairland, a case that concluded with the capture of the suspect, 31-year-old Matthew Foster, near McAlester.
"Our goal is to provide a safe place for our residents. We want families to feel secure when going to the park, taking a walk after dinner, and attending sporting events," Rosellini stated while outlining the priorities of his administration.
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