11 illegal aliens charged with child sex trafficking in multi-state case
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The Justice Department announced Tuesday that federal prosecutors have charged 11 Venezuelan and Colombian citizens, 10 of whom they say are currently in the United States illegally, in a sweeping, multi-state criminal case alleging the defendants sold a minor and an adult woman for sex, as well as sold drugs and trafficked in illegal firearms.
Ten of the defendants were arrested Tuesday during coordinated law enforcement operations in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida, while one remains at large. Prosecutors said 10 of the 11 defendants are currently in the United States illegally.
The 30-count federal indictment, returned June 11 and unsealed Tuesday, alleges that the four defendants conspired to sex traffic a minor and an adult female between July and August 2025. The Department of Justice’s announcement appears to contain conflicting references to the minor’s age; In one episode, the alleged victim is identified as 17, and in a quote from the US attorney, he is identified as 14.
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FBI agents are seen during a law enforcement operation. Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that 11 illegal aliens from Venezuela and Colombia have been charged in a multi-state case alleging sex trafficking, drug trafficking and illegal firearms trafficking. (FBI Boston/X)
According to the Department of Justice, the defendants crossed state lines to promote prostitution and created online commercial sex ads in the central Ohio area.
Beyond the alleged sex trafficking scheme, members of the group also trafficked ecstasy and firearms, including at least nine guns, prosecutors said. Some defendants are also accused of illegally possessing firearms in the country.
“These defendants (10 of whom are currently in this country illegally) are alleged to have engaged in a wide range of illegal trafficking activities, from drugs to firearms to people,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. he said. “We have no tolerance for anyone who commits such crimes in our society and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
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FILE – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents escort a suspect during a law enforcement operation. Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that 11 illegal aliens from Venezuela and Colombia have been charged in a multi-state case alleging sex trafficking, drug trafficking and illegal firearms trafficking. (X/HSI_Miami)
The charges stem from an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force.
“We will continue to work hard to keep Ohio safe and get narcotics, firearms and violent criminals off our streets,” said FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie.
Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of Detroit said the indictment demonstrates the task force’s commitment to protecting communities from transnational criminal organizations accused of exploiting vulnerable victims while trafficking drugs and firearms.
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Those charged include six defendants who live in Ohio. These include Venezuelan citizens Jean Pierre Alejandro Guillen Salcedo, 30, and Taidin Adreina Ferrer Guillen, 34, both from Hilliard; Venezuelan nationals Pedro Angel Colls-Flores, 34, and Alismar Daniela Contreras-Arevalo, 20, both of Columbus; and Colombian citizens Briyi Daniela Ordonez-Iter (21) of Hilliard and Julian David Patino Pena (33) of Columbus.
The other two defendants are Venezuelan citizens living in Tennessee: John Alexandre Fajardo-Ulzcategui (27) and Jose Ruben Sanchez-Pena (34), both from Izmir.
The remaining defendants are Keivar Elian Guillen Salcedo, 26, a Venezuelan national from Charlotte, North Carolina; Venezuelan national Therry Brayant Leon Gavida, 34, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Dervin Alejandro Colmenares Quintero, 29, a Venezuelan citizen whose residence is listed as Mexico.
The Justice Department said the case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative created under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People from Invasion. The goal of the initiative is to target transnational criminal organizations, foreign gangs, human trafficking networks, and violent criminal aliens operating in the United States.
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The indictment contains only allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Justice for clarification on an apparent discrepancy in its announcement regarding the age of one of the alleged trafficking victims and will update this story if a response is received.
