A federal judge in Corpus Christi has issued a guilty verdict against Marcus Anthony Tunchez, a 25-year-old Corpus Christi resident, on charges of sex trafficking of a child.
The one-day trial occurred on December 14, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. The court returned its verdict late yesterday against Marcus Anthony Tunchez, who was identified as a member of the Mexican Mafia gang involved in both methamphetamine distribution and sex trafficking.
According to the court, in May 2017, Marcus Anthony Tunchez began selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer and said he acted as a pimp to several young women. He created and posted advertisements on a commercial sex website for the young women who then gave half the proceeds from their commercial sex acts to Marcus Anthony Tunchez.
In September 2017, Marcus Anthony Tunchez met with the undercover officer for the purpose of sex trafficking a child he believed was a 14-year-old girl. He expected to meet the child and transport her to a hotel where she would engage in a commercial sex act. Marcus Anthony Tunchez expected to receive 20 percent of the proceeds. He was taken into custody upon his arrival at the designated meeting place.
At trial, Marcus Anthony Tunchez attempted to convince the court that he intended to rob the undercover officer and not commit a sex trafficking crime. However, Judge Ramos did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.
Marcus Anthony Tunchez entered a guilty plea on the narcotics charges and an unrelated gun charge before Judge Ramos on December 7, 2017. Sentencing will be set at a later date. At that hearing, Marcus Anthony Tunchez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Marcus Anthony Tunchez also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children.
Marcus Anthony Tunchez was arrested on federal charges in September 2017 and has been in custody since that time. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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