Mexican man sentenced to 20 years for sex trafficking of a minor

MIAMI – A Mexican man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Monday for sex trafficking of a minor. The sentence was the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Timoteo Reyes-Perez, 35, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. He was originally charged in 2008 but was a fugitive until last year when he was extradited to the United States from Mexico.

According to court documents, Reyes-Perez met and married his victim in Mexico when she was 14 years old.  Soon after, Reyes-Perez smuggled her across the border into the United States and proceeded to transport her to New York, Atlanta and south Florida.  Reyes-Perez prostituted the victim at brothels in multiple locations, including West Palm Beach where at times she was forced to have sex with up to 30 men per night and then he kept all of the proceeds.

At sentencing, the victim spoke about how Reyes-Perez had forced her into prostitution against her will, using physical and sexual violence to ensure her compliance.  She also spoke about the lasting emotional and psychological damage she sustained.

Five other defendants who were also charged in the same indictment pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor and were sentenced in 2009 to terms of imprisonment ranging from 60 to 160 months.

The public can report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.