A Maryland woman received 132 months in jail Friday for recruiting a 15-year-old, pregnant runaway to engage in commercial sex acts for a trafficking ring with ties to the MS-13 street gang.
Yanira del Carmen Guerrero Andrade, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady in Alexandria. Her prison sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release.
Prosecutors said that Andrade, an illegal alien from El Salvador who resided in Adelphi, Md., met the girl in 2008 at a nightclub in Hyattsville and recruited her to work as a prostitute for an organization run by Andrade's boyfriend, Julio Revolorio-Ramos.
“Andrade took advantage of a vulnerable, scared teenage runaway, and instead of helping her, she prostituted her through a gang,” said Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in a statement. “What is even more sinister is that she took advantage of a young pregnant mother, creating two victims of her crime."
Prosecutors said that Andrade and Revolorio-Ramos transported the teen from Maryland to Northern Virginia and trafficked her to at least 40 people over the first three days after recruiting her. According to court documents, Andrade instructed the girl to use an alias and say that she was 20 years old. Prosecutors say that Andrade also referred the girl to other traffickers besides Revolorio-Ramos.
Revelorio-Ramos pleaded guilty to a charge of sex trafficking of a child and in February received a sentence of 188 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
“Andrade was in a position to aid the victim of this unconscionable act, but instead of helping her, she helped perpetuate her exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride. “She now has 11 years in federal prison to think about her decision. This prosecution is another example of our commitment to prosecuting anyone who participates in this vile crime.”
