DOJ Commended for Prosecution of Gang Members Who Trafficked Children

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TARGETS: Young girls are trafficked as sex workers in Hawaii
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REPORT FROM GLOBAL CENTURION FOUNDATION  – National anti-trafficking organization Global Centurion Foundation (GCF) commended the Fairfax County Police Department, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, HIS and the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force for their work to prosecute two MS-13 gang members for child sex trafficking.

“Over the last fifteen years, criminal gang activity in the United States has become a serious problem.  At the same time, human trafficking has emerged as one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States,” commented GCF President Laura J. Lederer J.D.  “GCF uncovered over two hundred cases in which gang members have been involved in human trafficking, and it has been our priority to work with state legislators, law enforcement, community leaders and educators to address the link between street gangs and sex trafficking.”

“We commend the hard work of the FBI, local law enforcement, the Department of Justice and all of those involved these cases which continue to highlight street gang involvement in the violence and exploitation related to modern slavery.”

In a recent report, the U.S. Department of Justice noted two high profile cases of street gang trafficking.  Jonathan Adonay Fuentes of Clinton, MD pled guilty last month to sex trafficking a juvenile female as part of a prostitution enterprise operated by the violent street gang Mara Slavatrucha Thirteen (MS-13).  Fuentes admitted in court that he transported a teen girl within Virginia and Maryland to engage in sex with clients. The large majority of appointments took place at a gang-controlled apartment, however, Fuentes also prostituted the young girl at various hotels throughout the DC-metro area and supplied the victim with drugs and alcohol to keep her compliant.

Early this month, Yimmy Pineda-Penado of Alexandria, VA, was also sentenced for his role in a gang-run juvenile prostitution ring.  Pineda-Penado, originally from El Salvador, became involved in juvenile sex trafficking through his membership in MS-13, through which he prostituted a juvenile female at various motels and apartments in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Falls Church in Virginia, as well as in Maryland.  The victim was not permitted to leave the prostitution scheme, and MS-13 members plied her with drugs and alcohol to make her more compliant while her body was being exploited for profit.


 Global Centurion is a non-profit organization dedicated to playing a vital role in eradicating world slavery by focusing on the demand side of the equation – the perpetrators, exploiters, buyers, and end-users of human beings who fuel the market for commercial sex and forced labor.  In this way we seek to prevent modern slavery at its source.  To learn more about GCF or to read Laura J. Lederer’s report on the link between modern slavery and street gangs, please visit us at www.globalcenturion.org.

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  2. […] DOJ Commended for Prosecution of Gang Members WhoTraffickedChildrenHawaii ReporterAt the same time,human traffickinghas emerged as one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States,” commented GCF President Laura J. Lederer J.D. “GCF uncovered over two hundred cases in which gang members have been involved in human… […]

  5. Human trafficking is a huge problem. A lot of young girls are trapped in this problem and their lives are being ruined. They need our help.

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