Missouri man sentenced in North Texas to more than 30 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a child

SHERMAN, Texas — A Missouri man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 30 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a child, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston, Eastern District of Texas.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Denton (Texas) Police Department.

Nathan Oliva, 30, pleaded guilty Jan. 28 to sex trafficking children and was sentenced to 365 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant.

According to information presented in court, an unidentified person called in a tip to the Denton Police Department that a child was being trafficked by Oliva and was at a hotel. Denton Police officers located a classified ad on Backpage.com that offered the child for sex. Officers went to the hotel where they located the victim and the defendant. The victim, who had injuries sustained from an assault by Oliva, told the officers that she was feared for her life because Oliva had injured her and had threatened her with greater harm. Moreover, Oliva had taken control of her cellphone, driver’s license, and social security card. Oliva also threated to harm the victim’s parents. As part of his guilty plea, Oliva admitted posting ads on Backpage.com that offered the minor victim for commercial sex. Oliva was indicted by a federal grand jury Aug. 13, 2015.

Assistant U.S. Marisa J. Miller, Eastern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

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.