SAN DIEGO, California — In a San Diego federal court on Monday, February 12th, 2024, Gabriel Joseph Gonzalez was handed a twelve-year prison sentence for his involvement in child sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California confirmed the verdict.
Last year, the 20-year-old Gonzalez admitted guilt to a charge of sex trafficking a minor. This admission came after the victim, a runaway residing at a group home in Los Angeles County, was rescued by the San Diego Police Department in late January.
“Human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor is inexcusable,” remarked California Attorney General Rob Bonta in a statement. “At the California Department of Justice, we are fighting to hold perpetrators accountable and help survivors get a fresh start.“
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Prosecutors revealed that Gonzalez, who had known the victim since she was 13 years old, persuaded her to leave the group home to engage in commercial sex work in early 2023. Subsequently, he transported her to San Diego, where she was coerced into walking areas recognized for prostitution. The victim managed to escape and call 911, and was later rescued by the SDPD during a major human trafficking operation on January 26th that resulted in the arrest of 48 individuals and the rescue of 16 trafficking victims, including eight minors.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath commended the victim’s bravery, stating, “Her trust in law enforcement demonstrated that when someone reports abuse, the public servants in this community are all hands on deck to bring abusers to justice.“
Despite his guilty plea in July 2023, prosecutors revealed that Gonzalez attempted to continue trafficking the victim while in custody. The federal judge’s decision to impose a twelve-year sentence on Gonzalez reflected what was described as his “lack of remorse” for his actions in custody and the “continued victimization of the minor,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
