Indiana man sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for soliciting child prostitution across state lines

HAMMOND, Ind. – An Indiana man was sentenced in federal court Thursday to more than five years in prison for hiring a pimp to transport a minor across state lines for prostitution. 

This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI. U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II, for the District of Indiana, announced the sentence.

Aleksandar Jokic, 43, of Schererville, Indiana solicited a pimp to transport a 16-year-old girl from Chicago to his Indiana home for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts in June and October of 2015, according to court documents.

During this time period, Jokic also solicited and engaged in commercial sex acts at his home on separate occasions from two other minor females, aged 15 and 16 years old.

District Court Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen sentenced Jokic to a term of 70 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release. The court also imposed a $5,000 fine.

The case was prosecuted by assistant U.S. Attorney Abizer Zanzi.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.