POSTED: Monday, December 13, 2010
SAN ANTONIO -- On Friday, a jury in state district court sentenced Juan Moreno, 45, to life in prison after convicting him on human trafficking charges. He held a 13-year-old runaway girl captive and forced her to have sex with several men.
Watch Paul Venema's ReportState laws against human trafficking have been strengthened recently and now carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. The state laws are primarily used in domestic cases.
Federal laws against human trafficking, in most cases, deal with international cases.
"Best estimates suggest that there are over 100,000 children being trafficked here in the United States," Melton said.
"What we do not realize is that there are huge numbers of our very own children who are being trafficked right here."Prosecution at both the federal and state levels is vital, she said.
"We've got to take the resources and expertise that we have and apply it to the crisis," Melton said.
Melton said that there are other cases currently being prepared for prosecution in Bexar County.
Among them are cases against Moreno's younger brother and two other men accused of raping the teenage runaway.
DA: Human Trafficking A Major Problem - San Antonio & Texas News Story - KSAT San Antonio
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