East Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER PEDRAZA, 28, of East Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to one count of sex trafficking of a minor. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, Pedraza promoted the prostitution of a 16-year-old girl by advertising the victim’s prostitution services and soliciting clients on Backpage.com.  In March 2017, he harbored the victim in motel rooms he rented in Hartford, Windsor and East Windsor, where clients met the victim and paid for sex acts.  Pedraza also had sexual contact with the victim.

The investigation also revealed that, between September and December 2016, Pedraza engaged in sex trafficking of at least two 18-year-old females.

Pedraza has been detained since his arrest on May 26, 2017.

When he is sentenced, Pedraza faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the East Windsor Police Department, through the Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj N. Patel and Sarala V. Nagala.