Co-defendant in Sex Trafficking Case Pleads Guilty

Authorities have announced that Pablo Bonifacio pleaded guilty in federal court in Los Angeles, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and transporting illegal aliens in the pending case of United States v. Vasquez-Valenzuela. Another eight defendants are scheduled for trial on Sept. 2, 2008, in Los Angeles.^[1]

Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Bonifacio faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Bonifacio’s sentencing is scheduled to be in Los Angeles on July 28, 2008.^[2]

Bonifacio has admitted to conspiring with multiple co-defendants and others in a scheme to transport young Guatemalan women and girls into the United States illegally and to hold and harbor them in the Los Angeles area for the purpose of having them participate in prostitution.^[3] According to his admissions at the plea hearing, Bonifacio was paid for his role in taking young females to different locations within the Los Angeles area to engage in prostitution.^[4] Furthermore, the defendant stated that co-defendants arranged for young females to be recruited from Guatemala–often by promising them jobs–and were thereafter brought into the United States illegally for prostitution.^[5] In order to repay the fees for being brought into the United States the young women and girls were forced to engage in prostitution.^[6]

According to Acting Assistant Attorney General Grace Chung Becker, “The defendant was a willing participant in a conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of female victims from Central America.” Becker went on to state, “The Department of Justice will continue to find and prosecute anyone who works to aid human trafficking schemes.”^[7]

U.S. Attorney Thomas O’Brien added, “Mr. Bonifacio has admitted his role in a scheme that lured young girls into the United States with promises of a better life, but the American dream turned into a nightmare when those children were forced to work as prostitutes.”^[8]

Human smuggling is prosecuted under 8 U.S.C. § 1324, the potential punishment can be up to 15 years in prison if the crime was committed for the purpose of commercial or private financial gain.^[9] The pertinent subsection to the case here is § 1324(2)(b)(ii) which states that, “Any person who, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, brings to or attempts to bring to the United States in any manner whatsoever, such alien, regardless of any official action which may later be taken with respect to such alien shall in the case of an offense done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, be fined under title 18 and shall be imprisoned not less than 3 nor more than 10 years, and for any other violation, not less than 5 nor more than 15 years.”^[10]

Federal criminal defense attorney, Douglas McNabb, has written extensively on human trafficking. Some of his work in the area can be seen here.

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[1] Press Release, United States Department of Justice, Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking and Transporting Illegal Aliens in Los Angeles, May 8, 2008 (available at http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/May/08_crt_396.html).
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] 18 U.S.C. § 1324.
[10] 18 U.S.C. § 1324(2)(b)(ii).