San Antonio Duo Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Minor Scheme

In San Antonio this morning, 26–year-old Valentin Renko was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for sex trafficking of a minor announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Division.

In December 2015, Renko pleaded guilty to the charge.  By pleading guilty, Renko admitted that on or about July 1, 2015, he provided and smoked methamphetamine with his co-defendant, 30-year-old Karen Lee, and a 12-year-old female.  That minor, who Renko made contact with through a social media website, had been reported missing to the Kirby Police Department in the days leading up to July 1, 2015.  Renko and Lee also discussed and planned ways of providing the child victim to adult males for commercial sex.  Lee, subsequently, took digital photos of Renko engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the minor female.  Lee also insisted the minor female make money in order to continue to reside with Lee and encouraged the victim to make dates with males using a social networking website.  During those dates, between July 2 and July 6, 2015, the victim engaged in sexual activity in exchange for U.S. currency and/or narcotics.

On April 25, 2015, Lee was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to her role in the sex trafficking of a minor scheme.

This case resulted from a South Texas Officers and Prosecutors Human Trafficking Task Force (STOP HTTF) investigation led by the FBI together with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Kirby Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.