CRIME
Rances Ulices Amaya, MS-13 gang member, convicted in sex trafficking ring
A fourth member of the notorious MS-13 gang has been convicted of participating in a sex trafficking ring in Northern Virginia.
A jury in Alexandria convicted 23-year-old Rances Ulices Amaya on Thursday of conspiring to commit sex trafficking of child and three counts of sex trafficking three girls.
Amaya was indicted last November on the four charges after the government presented evidence that in 2009, Amaya had joined forces with another MS-13 associate who was already allegedly prostituting teenage girls. Prosecutors also said that Amaya would use the violent reputation of the gang to make sure customers paid for sex.
Prosecutors said that Amaya would charge between $30 and $120 for about 20 minutes of sex with the victims.
In testimony during the trial, prosecutors said that the victims, who were between the ages of 14 and 17 years old, were required to have sex with 8-10 paying customers per day before fellow MS-13 gang members would have sex with them. One witness said that Amaya and other gang members would rape the victims as well.
The conviction comes several months after two other MS-13 gang members were sentenced for their role in the gang's sex trafficking business. On Oct. 28, 24-year-old Jose Ciro Juarez-Santamari was sentenced to life in prison for prostituting a 12-year-old girl throughout the D.C. metro area.
Less than a week later, Alonso Bruno Cornejo Ormeno, a 22-year-old Peruvian-born Fairfax man, was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison. Prosecutors in that case said that Cornejo Ormeno would target runaway girls as recruits for his prostitution ring.
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