MS-13 Gang Leader Yimmy Penado Pleads Guilty To Human/Sex Trafficking Charges
Plenty of news about American gangs participating in human trafficking lately. We recently shared another story about the Crips who are also engaging in the same criminal behavior. The latest report by the FBI has Yimmy Penado, an MS-13 leader, pleading guilty to sex trafficking charges.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—A former clique leader of MS-13 in Maryland pled guilty today for his role in a gang-run juvenile prostitution ring.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office; and John P. Torres, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Washington made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
Yimmy Anthony Pineda Penado, also known as “Critico” and “Spike,” 22, of Montgomery County, Maryland, pled guilty today to sex trafficking a juvenile. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison when he is sentenced on December 14, 2012.
“This is the 11th gang member convicted with child sex trafficking since 2011,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Prostituting young girls is a growing threat in our area, and we encourage anyone with information of this activity to call law enforcement. That one call could save a girl from sexual slavery.”
“Today’s plea is the direct result of the joint efforts of law enforcement to combat juvenile prostitution and human trafficking in Northern Virginia,” said Assistant Director in Charge McJunkin. “Together with our partner agencies, we will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to exploit vulnerable young girls for sex and money.”
“Sex trafficking is a deplorable crime, especially when it involves underage victims who are particularly vulnerable,” said SAC Torres. “HSI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat human trafficking.”
According to a statement of facts filed in court, Pineda Penado is a former clique leader of the international street gang Mara Salvatrucha Thirteen, also known as MS-13. He admitted that in the fall of 2009 through the spring of 2010, he assisted his fellow gang members in prostituting at least one teenage girl in hotels, motels, and homes controlled by MS-13 in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Over a two-week period, the teen girl was forced to have sex with more than 20 clients, and gang members provided the juvenile with alcohol and drugs in an effort to make her more compliant and receptive to being prostituted.
If you have any tips about human/sex traffickers, please contact us.
