Michael Lustig, Sex Trafficking, California 2014

A San Diego realtor has pleaded guilty to prostitution-related crimes, admitting to paying for sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Michael Lustig, 70, entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell D. Dembin on October 23, 2013, in federal court. Sentencing was set for November 3, 2014, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez.

According to court records, Lustig was first contacted in June 2012 by San Diego Sheriff's deputies during an operation targeting customers of prostitution in the Encinitas area. Deputies seized two cellular telephones, which led to information that he had been in contact with two minor females.

Interviews with the minors revealed that Lustig had contacted them separately to engage in commercial sex activity. One of the minors was 11 years old at the time that sexual activity began with Lustig, and the other was 13 years of age.

According to court records, surveillance video from a motel in El Cajon, California, showed Lustig entering a motel room with one of the minors and emerging 43 minutes later.

Lustig admitted in court that he used a cellular telephone to contact the 13-year-old minor on multiple occasions between at least October 2011 and June 2012, seeking to engage in commercial sex activity.

Defendant:

Michael Lustig

Age: 70

San Diego, California

Criminal Charges:

Three counts of Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises, in violation of 18 USC 1952(a)

Maximum Penalty: Five years per count, 15 years total; 3 years supervised release.

Outcome:

Sentencing set for November 3, 2014

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/san-diego-realtor-pleads-guilty-sex-13-year-old-girl