In a courtroom drama that came to a close today, Gabriel Joseph Gonzalez of Pomona, California, received a 12-year prison sentence for his role in the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. Gonzalez, aged 20, pleaded guilty last July to one count of sex trafficking of a minor after officials say he exploited a runaway from a Los Angeles County group home. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gonzalez began his illegal activities when the victim, whom he had known since she was 13, was enticed to leave her group home and perform sex work for his financial gain.
The harrowing details, as released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, reveal that Gonzalez transported the teenage girl to San Diego, forcing her to sell her body along notorious streets in the city. Throughout January 2023, the young victim was compelled to partake in commercial sex acts every day, save for an off-day Gonzalez granted on her 16th birthday. However, the victim's ordeal ended when she bravely contacted law enforcement, resulting in her rescue by the San Diego Police Department on January 26 and subsequent investigation by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force.
In an appalling twist, despite his guilty plea and while in custody, Gonzalez sought to continue his exploitation through jail calls. U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns decried Gonzalez's "absolute lack of remorse" when handing down the sentence. "The victim’s courage to call 911 in this case was extraordinary," U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said. McGrath applauded the victim's trust in law enforcement and commended the community's public servants for their dedication to justice.
Condemnation of Gonzalez's actions was echoed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who described human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors as "inexcusable." Bonta praised the collaborative efforts of the California DOJ-led San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy emphasized the significant, lasting harm such crimes cause to victims, their families, and communities. For those in need of assistance or to report suspected trafficking activities, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center is reachable via their 24/7 toll-free hotline at (888) 373-7888 or through texting BeFree or 233733.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek Ko and Lyndzie M. Carter prosecuted the case, filed under case number 23-cr-0513-LAB. The charge, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, falls under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1591(a) and (b)(1), a statute that underscores the United States' commitment to eradicating the abhorrent trade of human lives for sexual exploitation, particularly when it preys upon the most vulnerable.
