A July 2024 911 call from a 15-year-old girl who said she was being forced into prostitution ended with a lengthy prison term in Denver. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced a 28-year-old man to 16 years behind bars after prosecutors said he recruited the teen to perform sexual acts for money across the metro area.
The defendant, 28-year-old Gabriel Anthony Peterson, was arrested in November 2024 and pleaded guilty in December to human trafficking of a minor, according to a news release cited by the Denver Gazette. Denver District Attorney John Walsh said in the release that "Gabriel Peterson took advantage of a young girl in one of the most despicable ways imaginable, and all for his own financial gain." Walsh’s office publicly thanked prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, the Denver Police Department’s human trafficking unit and the FBI task force involved in the case.
Legal context
Under Colorado law, human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude is classified as a class 2 felony and carries a tougher sentencing range than trafficking involving adults. State statute allows for prison terms from roughly 16 to 48 years for this crime, according to Justia. The law removes consent and most age-based defenses when the victim is a minor and can require sex-offender registration and financial penalties. The 16-year sentence handed down in Peterson’s case sits at the lower end of that statutory range.
Trafficking in Colorado
The case comes as Colorado continues to log high numbers of human-trafficking incidents. A recent statewide review found that 2024 ranked among the highest years on record, with Denver County accounting for a significant share of reported cases. Advocates and analysts say minors make up a substantial portion of identified victims, a trend highlighted in an update from the research group Common Sense Institute.
Get help or report tips
Anyone with information about this case or other suspected trafficking is urged to contact local law enforcement. Survivors and community members can also reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or via live chat, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The service operates 24/7 and offers support in more than 200 languages.
