Case Law Database

Trafficking in persons

United States v. Juan Reyes Rojas

United States of America

Fact Summary

Three defendants, all Mexican nationals, are brothers who forced one 16-year-old girl and another teenager from Mexico to come to the United States with promises of legitimate employment. Defendants used a combination of physical abuse, threats, and isolation to force both victims to prostitute themselves in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the victims was lured to the United States with promises of long-term romance. The victims were forced to perform commercial sexual acts with between 10 and 25 men per day. Defendants kept all of the proceeds. Brothers Jose Reyes Rojas and Juan Reyes Rojas were both sentenced to between 57 and 71 months incarceration; Raul Reyes Rojas remains a fugitive on the run.

Commentary and Significant Features

Decision and sentence date: 2009

Two other defendants were involved in the case though information about them is unavailable.

Author:
The Human Trafficking Database of the University of Michigan Law School

Keywords

Acts:
Transportation
Harbouring
Means:
Threat or use of force or other forms of coercion
Purpose of Exploitation:
Exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation
Forced labour or services
Sector in which exploitation takes place:
Commercial sexual exploitation

Procedural Information

Legal System:
Common Law
Latest Court Ruling:
Appellate Court
Type of Proceeding:
Criminal

1st Instance:

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Reference: Docket number: 1:03-CR-00542-TWT-ECS

2nd Instance:

Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the 5th Circuit

Date: 2009

Reference: 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 18244 (2009)

 
 

Victims / Plaintiffs in the first instance

Victim:
2 individuals
Gender:
Female
Nationality:
Mexican

Defendants / Respondents in the first instance

Defendant:
Juan Reyes Rojas
Gender:
Male
Legal Reasoning:

Guilty plea

Charges / Claims / Decisions

Defendant:
Juan Reyes Rojas
Legislation / Statute / Code:

18 U.S.C. 1591

Charge details:
Sex Trafficking of Children
Verdict:
Guilty
Legislation / Statute / Code:

18 U.S.C. 371

Charge details:
Conspiracy to defraud the United States
Verdict:
Withdrawn
Legislation / Statute / Code:

8 U.S.C. 1328, 18 U.S.C. 2

Charge details:
Importation of Alien for Immoral Purpose
Verdict:
Withdrawn
Term of Imprisonment:
5 years 11 Months
+ 36 months supervised release
Compensation / Payment to Victim:
No 
Fine / Payment to State:
Yes  200  USD  (Up to 10,000 USD) Special assessment

Court

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Sources / Citations

http://www.law.umich.edu/CLINICAL/HUTRAFFICCASES/Pages/CaseDisp.aspx?caseID=237