Flores-Rojas trafficked a 16-year-old Honduran girl. He recruited her and transported her from Washington, D.C. to Charlotte, N.C., for her to engage in commercial sex. In order to gain control of her, the defendant physically and sexually abused the victim. He also coerced the victim psychologically, by forcing her to pray with him and telling her that if she ran away, Santa Muerte (“Saint Death”) would punish her.
In addition, around November 2007, Flores-Rojas trafficked a 17-year old girl between the same areas for commercial sex in Washington D.C. He had previously paid other persons to smuggle both victims from Mexico into the United States.
In February 2008, the defendant was arrested in South Carolina where he had brought several other victims.
United States of America
Honduras
Mexico1st Instance:
Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
Location: North Carolina
Date of decision: April 6, 2009
Reference: DOCKET NUMBER No. 3:08-cr-00034
The defendant entered a guilty plea.
18 USC 1591
18 U.S.C. §§ 2421 and 2422
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
DOJ press release: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/mexican-man-sentenced-24-years-sex-trafficking-minors-and-transportation-purpose-commercial
Michigan Law Database: http://www.law.umich.edu/CLINICAL/HUTRAFFICCASES/Pages/CaseDisp.aspx?caseID=578
The U.S. government charged the defendant with a number of other offenses, but dropped them as part of the plea agreement. Those offenses were: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371); Unlawful Employment of Aliens and Aided, Abetted, Counselled, Commanded, Induced or Procured the Commission of This Offense (8 U.S.C. § 1342a); Kidnapping (18 U.S.C. § 1201); Coercion or Enticement of Minor Female (18 U.S.C. § 2422); Bringing In and Harboring Aliens (8 U.S.C. § 1324).
Additionally, and because the defendant is a Mexican national, he will be deported to Mexico after he serves his 25 year sentence.