Federal authorities have made a major arrest in a sex trafficking case, charging a New Mexico man with exploiting three children under the age of 18.
Vernon Dimayuga, a 31-year-old from Artesia, New Mexico, was arrested in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Friday. He is facing three counts of Sex Trafficking of Children, a federal indictment returned on September 9, 2015 alleges.
The indictment claims that between May 2011 and May 2012, Dimayuga recruited the three children to engage in commercial sex acts.
Dimayuga, also known as “Vito,” was arrested in Las Cruces and is currently being held in federal custody. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on Thursday, [date unknown] for a preliminary and detention hearing.
The arrest was made possible through a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as part of the Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam).
“The arrest of Mr. Dimayuga for sex trafficking of minors demonstrates that the FBI and our partners will investigate all instances where children in our community are being harmed or exploited,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.
Upon conviction, Dimayuga faces between 10 years and life in federal prison.
Related Federal Cases
- Terry Allen Miles, Kidnapping and Sex Trafficking, Texas 2024 · Colorado
- Alexander Joseph Johnson, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Texas 2013 · Colorado
- Travis Wayne Vavra, Child Sex Trafficking, Texas 2015 · Louisiana
- Travis Wayne Vavra, Child Sex Trafficking, Texas 2021 · Louisiana
- Albert Frank Garza, Failure to Register as Sex Offender, Texas 2023 · Colorado
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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