A Westmoreland County Commissioner who has come under fire for accepting a campaign donation from a man connected with a human trafficking ring has donated money from her campaign to the Human Trafficking Task Force.
The Tribune-Review reports that Gina Cerilli has been criticized by Republican commissioner candidate Doug Chew about $1,900 in donations made by Henry Caruso, who was implicated in the prostitution and human trafficking ring. Caruso’s wife, Hui Xu, along with four others, were charged with the ring that operated out of Murrysville and Monroeville. Cerilli said that Caruso was just a supporter of his campaign, like many others who donated. She did announce that she would give $2,000 to the county’s Human Trafficking Task Force.
Cerilli was critical of Chew’s use of Caruso, who passed away, as a part of his campaign, and has asked that Chew donate a similar amount. Chew said that Cerilli should also step down from her position on the task force.
