Altamonte Springs Man Gets 30 Years for Sex Trafficking Minor

Rowy De Jesus Vasquez, a 26-year-old man from Altamonte Springs, Florida, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a minor, marking a grim chapter in the ongoing battle against child exploitation. U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron handed down the sentence on Monday, ensuring Vasquez will spend three decades behind bars for preying on a 14-year-old girl for financial gain.

The crime unfolded between April 24, 2015, and June 10, 2015, when Vasquez systematically exploited the young victim by forcing her into commercial sex acts. According to court documents filed as part of his October 20, 2016 guilty plea, Vasquez controlled every aspect of the abuse—providing the minor with a cellphone to communicate with johns and posting explicit ads on Backpage, the notorious online marketplace for illicit services.

Vasquez set the prices for the sexual encounters and collected every dollar earned, funneling the profits into his own pockets while the girl suffered in silence. The exploitation was not random or impulsive—it was a calculated operation designed to maximize profit from the body of a child. Federal authorities described the scheme as textbook sex trafficking, with Vasquez acting as both pimp and procurer.

In addition to the 30-year prison term, the court ordered Vasquez to serve 20 years of supervised release upon his eventual release. He must also pay $23,040 in restitution to the victim and register as a sex offender for life—consequences meant to reflect the severity and lasting trauma of his crimes.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, with critical support from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda prosecuted the case, ensuring that Vasquez faced full accountability under federal law. The prosecution emphasized that no amount of time can undo the damage done, but justice has been served through maximum sentencing.

This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the rising tide of child sexual exploitation. By leveraging federal, state, and local partnerships, the program targets predators who exploit minors through digital platforms and street-level trafficking. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psc.