Derek Leon Mantilla, Sex Trafficking, Virginia 2015

State: Virginia
Category: Sex Crimes
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/fairfax-man-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-15-year-old-girl" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

A 15-year-old girl was brutally exploited in a sex trafficking ring in Fairfax, Virginia, with one of the ringleaders, Derek Leon Mantilla, 21, now facing life in prison.

According to court documents, from November 2014 to February 2015, Mantilla, along with Ismael Antonio Mendez and Caitlyn Ann Smith, recruited the teenager to engage in commercial sex acts to pay off a debt owed to Mantilla by Mendez.

The adults taught the girl how to prostitute, took photos of her to use in advertisements, and created ads for commercial sex that were posted on the Internet. They knew the girl was a minor and instructed her to lie about her age to customers.

Over a three-month period, the group traveled with the girl through various states, including Virginia, for the purposes of advertising and engaging the girl in commercial sex. During that time, the girl worked seven days a week and saw an average of 10 to 12 customers a night.

Once the girl had earned enough to pay off the debt, Mantilla directed her to leave the group, and she did.

Mantilla’s co-defendants, Ismael Antonio Mendez and Caitlyn Ann Smith, previously pleaded guilty in the case.

Mantilla faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on July 8. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente, FBI Assistant Director Paul M. Abbate, and Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin C. Roessler made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Dougherty Russell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Britsch are prosecuting the case.

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