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Defendant Sentenced to 30 Years for Sex Trafficking of Minors
Spokane, WA – Roberto L. Llerenas, Jr., a 36-year-old Benton City man, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in sex trafficking two minors in Washington state.
According to court documents, Llerenas was found guilty of four counts of trafficking two children under 18 for commercial sex. The victims, both 15-year-old girls, were prostituted by Llerenas in and around migrant worker camps in the Pasco and Wenatchee areas.
Llerenas would bring the girls to the camps, take cash from migrant workers, and hand the customer a condom. The girl chosen by the customer would then be forced to engage in sex with the customer, often on the concrete floor of a communal shower room.
The victims testified at trial that Llerenas used manipulation, coercion, threats, and sometimes violence to cause them to engage in prostitution and prevent them from reporting the offenses to authorities.
Senior United States District Judge Edward F. Shea sentenced Llerenas to a total of 30 years in federal prison, with the sentences to run concurrently. The judge also ordered that Llerenas must spend the rest of his life on supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Alison L. Gregoire and James A. Goeke, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington, as part of Project Safe Childhood.
U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby commended the victims for their courage in coming forward and testifying in this case. He stated, ‘The damage Llerenas caused the two victims for his own selfish benefit is immeasurable. The sentence handed down today reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct.’
The case is a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of human trafficking in our communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those who exploit and traffic children for commercial sex.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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