Houston Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking

A 28-year-old Houston man has been found guilty of sex trafficking by the use of force, fraud and coercion, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Roger Maldonado, 28, entered a plea of guilty to two counts of sex trafficking. The investigation into Maldonado began after law enforcement found a female at a hospital in August 2015 who had been physically assaulted by Maldonado.

The victim had suffered a forehead laceration, upper and lower eyelid contusions, neck abrasions, a finger contusion and abdominal trauma. At the time, the victim told law enforcement that Maldonado was her boyfriend and that he had assaulted her.

In September 2015, law enforcement found a second female who had also been assaulted by Maldonado. The investigation revealed that Maldonado had been trafficking these two victims on Backpage.com as well as at Pink Spa, a sexually-oriented business located in Houston known for prostitution activities.

Through their investigation, law enforcement discovered that Maldonado had been taking photographs of the victims and posting advertisements in order to solicit business for them. Maldonado would set up the dates for the victims and transport them for commercial sex acts, with the victims turning a portion of the money over to him.

Maldonado used force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to have the victims perform commercial sex acts from which he benefited financially. Maldonado pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas, who set sentencing for November 29, 2016. At that time, Maldonado faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in federal prison.

The FBI and Houston Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Leo and Sherri Zack. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab ‘resources.’

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