Toledo Woman Charged with Sex Trafficking Involving a Minor

A criminal information was filed today charging Toledo woman with interstate sex trafficking involving a minor, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Office.

Amber Ginter, aka Amber Mendoza, age 35, is accused of transporting a minor from Ohio to Michigan in December 2009 with the purpose that the minor engage in commercial sexual activity, according to the information.

“This case is another stark reminder that human trafficking exists in our district and in our collective back yard,” Dettelbach said. “It’s a reminder that we need to be better neighbors and ask questions if something looks suspicious.”

Anthony said, “The sexual human trafficking of minors for profit is an injustice that will not be tolerated. The FBI continues to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who violate the rights of our most vulnerable of the community.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James V. Moroney, following an investigation by the Toledo Resident Agency of the FBI and the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The task force is made up of members of the FBI, Toledo Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Lima Police Department, Oregon Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any; the defendant’s role in the offense; and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.