Maryland MS-13 Member Arrested for Child Sex Trafficking

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Jonathan Adonay Fuentes, aka “Cheesy” and “Crazy Boy,” 20, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, was arrested yesterday for his alleged role in a child sex trafficking ring run by the international street gang Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13).

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the charges became public.

“This arrest marks the twelfth gang member we have charged with child sex trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “We hope gang members and other pimps realize they face serious prison time for profiting from forcing these children into sexual slavery.”

“The sex trafficking of an individual completely against their will, by force or threat of force, is a form of modern-day slavery,” said Assistant Director in Charge McJunkin. “The FBI and our partners on the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force will continue our focused effort to track down and bring to justice those who exploit our children and engage in human sex trafficking.”

Fuentes was charged by criminal complaint on September 28, 2012, with sex trafficking a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, if convicted. He was arrested on October 4, 2012, and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge T. Rawles Jones Jr. today.

According to court records, Fuentes is a member of the Normandie Locos Savatruch (NLS) clique of MS-13 and jointly operated with others associated with the gang a juvenile prostitution scheme for several months that trafficked at least three teen girls. Fuentes allegedly recruited prostitution customers, spoke to repeat customers, helped collect the prostitution fees, transported the victims to have sex with clients, and provided the victims with narcotics and alcohol.

Court records state that one victim, a runaway who was between the ages of 15 and 16 at the time, was forced into prostitution after MS-13 members threatened to harm her boyfriend if she did not agree to prostitute for them. During one four-week period, Fuentes allegedly helped facilitate multiple prostitution appointments for her each day, seven days per week.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which participates in the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys G. Zachary Terwilliger and Patricia Giles are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Founded in 2004, the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies—along with non-governmental organizations—dedicated to combating human trafficking and related crimes. From fiscal year 2011 to the present, 39 defendants have been prosecuted in 21 cases in the Eastern District of Virginia for human trafficking and trafficking-related conduct involving at least 31 victims. Twelve of those defendants were gang members or associates prosecuted for sex trafficking juveniles in northern Virginia, with sentences imposed ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.

Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.