We reported in September on the teen prostitution ring that got busted at a South San Francisco Travelodge, and now the couple behind it all, Mahendar "Mike" Singh, 40, and his wife, Helen Jean Singh, 22, have been indicted by a federal grand jury. Mike is currently in federal custody, and he pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of conspiring to commit sex trafficking. Helen has been released on bond and she'll be in court tomorrow to set an arraignment date.

As the Chron reports, the Singhs allegedly recruited the girls — two 16-year-olds and one 19-year-old — "by promising money and a "family-like environment," only to use drugs and violence to keep them captive. They used a well known website, MyRedBook.com, to pimp the girls.

They each face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

[Chron]