Alleged MS-13 gang leader convicted of sex trafficking of a minor
by Gregg MacDonal, fairfaxtimes.comJuly 28th 2011
Jose Ciro Juarez-Santamaria, 24, was convicted today of prostituting a 12-year-old girl with clients throughout northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to court records and evidence at trial, Juarez-Santamaria was an illegal immigrant who had joined MS-13 while in El Salvador. He was a leader of the Pinos Locos clique of MS-13 and known by the nickname "Sniper."
According to court documents, at a Halloween party in Oxon Hill, Md., on Oct. 31, 2009, Juarez-Santamaria met a 12-year-old runaway who asked for his help in finding a place to stay. Instead, Juarez-Santamaria began prostituting the minor throughout the metro-D.C. area.
"From the moment he laid eyes on the victim, Juarez-Santamaria did not see a young 12-year-old runaway in need of help," said U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride in a release. "He saw a money-making opportunity for him and his gang and began prostituting her the very next day. No child should ever have to suffer what this victim endured, and we will continue to pursue MS-13 and other criminal organizations that prey upon young girls and enslave them through sex trafficking."
The girl, now 14, testified at trial how Juarez-Santamaria and his fellow gang members would constantly call customers in an effort to drum up business. She testified that she was prostituted from October to December 2009 and was providing sex for money at times every day of the week.
Court records state that Juarez-Santamaria and other gang members would provide her with alcohol and marijuana. The prostitution took place at various businesses, homes, apartments and hotels in the Northern Virginia area. Juarez-Santamaria also allowed MS-13 gang members to have sex with the victim free of charge, court records state.
"Forcing girls into prostitution for the purpose of turning a profit is not only criminal, it is intolerable," said John P. Torres, special agent in charge for ICE's Homeland Security Investigations in Washington, D.C. "ICE is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate sex trafficking, as well as working with our local nongovernmental, community-based and faith-based organizations to identify, rescue and assist victims of trafficking."
Juarez-Santamaria was indicted on May 12 and today was convicted of conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation of a minor for prostitution. He faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 28. Juarez-Santamaria will be deported to El Salvador after serving his sentence in the United States.
Juarez-Santamaria's attorney, David T. Williams, said last week that his client is "considering his options and has no further comment."
Original Page: http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20110728/NEWS/707289764/1117/1117/alleged-ms-13-gang-leader-convicted-of-sex-trafficking-of-a-minor&template=fairfaxTimes
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