Illegal Aliens Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Child Orphan

SAN ANTONIO - Two illegal aliens from Venezuela were sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to a combined 32 years in prison for sex trafficking of a 16-year-old starting in Columbia and extending to Richmond, Kentucky and San Antonio, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Giannys Alexandra Ramirez-Fernandez, 21, and Nelson Adrian Perez-Martinez, 23, conspired, knowing that a 16-year-old undocumented Venezuelan orphan, would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.

Ramirez-Fernandez, who was 17 years old at the time, began a relationship with the minor victim when the minor was 13 years old and living with her adopted parents in Colombia. The two crossed illegally into the United States in December 2022. Perez-Martinez, a friend of Ramirez-Fernandez from Venezuela, crossed illegally into the U.S. in December 2023 and joined them. Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez traveled with the minor victim from Kentucky to San Antonio for the minor victim to engage in prostitution. Once in San Antonio, an advertisement was posted on personals for commercial sex with the minor victim. All three - Ramirez-Fernandez, Perez-Martinez, and the minor victim - shared in the proceeds from the commercial sex.

An investigation revealed that, in 2024, Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez accompanied the minor to approximately six different motels in San Antonio from July 19 to July 30. The three shared a room at each location, paid for in cash by proceeds from the child's commercial sex acts.

Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez were arrested on July 30, 2024, as part of an ongoing investigation into domestic sex trafficking. An undercover San Antonio Police officer with the Human Exploitation Unit responded to an advertisement posted on a website for escort services. Posing as a customer, the officer contacted the phone number on the advertisement and was instructed to meet at the Studio 6 motel on Pasteur Court in San Antonio. Once the undercover was in the motel room with the minor, the victim agreed to sexual services for a fee, and the officer signaled for the arrest team. Simultaneously, Perez-Martinez and Ramirez-Fernandez were arrested, as they were identified as spotters for the operation.

On Sept. 17, 2025, Ramirez-Fernandez pleaded guilty to three counts: aiding and abetting sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to sex traffic children, and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. On Oct. 1, 2025, federal prosecutors filed a five-count superseding indictment charging Perez-Martinez with aiding and abetting sex trafficking children; aiding and abetting benefitting from sex trafficking children; conspiracy to sex traffic children; aiding and abetting coercion and enticement; and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. A jury found Perez-Martinez guilty on all counts on Feb. 23, 2026. Prior to that, in October, an initial trial for Perez-Martinez resulted in a hung jury.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Perez-Martinez to 240 months in federal prison and lifetime supervised release. On Tuesday, Judge Biery sentenced Ramirez-Fernandez to 150 months in federal prison.

"We will not abide illegal aliens who come to this country, take advantage of our many freedoms, and then enrich themselves to the detriment of others," said U.S. Attorney Simmons. "The illegal alien defendants in this case sought to enrich themselves to the detriment of a child by forcing that child to engage in sex with adult men, and now they're getting paid exactly what they're owed: decades in prison."

"Human trafficking has no place in the world," said acting Special Agent in Charge, John A. Pasciucco, HSI San Antonio. "The suffering and abuse endured by the minor victims at the hands of this organization is unconscionable, and these sentences reflect the severity of those crimes. Our agents, analysts, and specialists work tirelessly-both globally and domestically-to pursue traffickers and, most importantly, to rescue victims across the country and around the world,"

Homeland Security Investigations and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia McNab and Sade Bogart prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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