Venezuelan man admits to federal sex trafficking in Baton Rouge, faces deportation
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A man from Venezuela has admitted guilt to federal sex trafficking charges. This case involves the illegal transport and exploitation of women for prostitution in Baton Rouge.
Josmar Jesus Zambrano-Chirinos pleaded guilty in a deal with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Louisiana. Court documents said he admitted to one count of sex trafficking using force, fraud, and coercion.
Court documents say Zambrano-Chirinos and a female associate lured women from outside the U.S. with false promises of opportunity. Once the women arrived, they forced them into prostitution to pay off made-up debts.
Prosecutors said Zambrano helped two women enter the U.S. illegally in early 2024. Then, he took them to a rented apartment in Baton Rouge. Once there, they were forced to engage in commercial sex acts.
In April 2024, authorities discovered the operation after a victim called 911. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office responded to the scene. They found cash, condoms, sexual devices, and cell phones with messages from clients. Deputies also found ledgers that tracked the women's earnings and debts.
Zambrano was arrested in May 2024 at a Baton Rouge hotel alongside another man. In the plea deal, he admitted to helping the victims travel. He also managed their expenses and made money from their exploitation, court documents said.
As part of the agreement, the government will drop more charges after sentencing. However, Zambrano faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and could receive up to life in prison. He also faces potential fines, restitution, and a minimum of five years of supervised release following his prison term.
Zambrano's plea also comes with immigration consequences, including separation, court documents said.
The court will determine the sentencing at a later date.
Woman accused of attacking Baton Rouge motel manager, making threats to police
Sean Elliott named new CEO and president of YMCA of the Capital Area
Venezuelan man admits to federal sex trafficking in Baton Rouge, faces deportation
Hegseth set up Signal on Pentagon office computer: Reports
NFL Draft 2025: What to watch for as picks come in
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Investigators looking at who sent Hegseth's Signal texts, sources say
Pentagon investigators are looking into whether Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally wrote the text messages detailing the military's plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen or whether other staffers typed out those details, according to two people familiar with the ongoing probe. The Defense Department's Office of Inspector General has spent several weeks interviewing Hegseth's current and former staff members to figure out how United States strike details taken from a classified system wound up in a commercial messaging app known as Signal. "Because this is one of the DOD IG's ongoing projects, in accordance with our policy we do not provide the scope or details to protect the integrity of the process and avoid compromising the evaluation," DOD IG spokesperson Mollie Halperin told ABC News. The details were relayed in two chat groups that included Hegseth - one with Vice President JD Vance and other high-ranking officials, and a second one that included Hegseth's wife, who is not employed by the government. MORE: Pentagon watchdog launches probe into Hegseth use of Signal chat ahead of Houthi airstrike It remains unclear how soon the findings will be released. Hegseth is scheduled to testify for the first time as defense secretary on Tuesday, where Democratic lawmakers are expected to question his handling of classified and sensitive information. The sharing of the details reportedly occurred around the same time in mid-March when key members of President Donald Trump's National Security Council, including Hegseth, inadvertently shared details about the March 15 missile strike in Yemen with the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Much of the same content was shared in the second encrypted chat with family members and others -- a chat group that Hegseth had created on his personal phone during his confirmation process that included his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, the two officials told ABC News. MORE: What to know about Signal, which the Pentagon previously discouraged workers from using In addition to looking at whether the information was classified and who wrote it, investigators are also asking whether any staff members were asked by Hegseth or others to delete messages, according to one person familiar with the IG probe. The government is required under law to retain federal communications as official records.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Customs Border Protection officer charged with possessing child porn
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was charged with knowingly possessing one or more items that contained visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said Friday. Anthony John Crowley 52, of Minnetonka, Minn., made his first appearance in U.S. District Court on Friday, authorities said. 'In recent months, we have seen a rash of agents, officers, and public officials engaging in crimes against children,' Thompson said in a news release. 'Let there be no misunderstanding: the U.S. Attorney's Office has zero tolerance for people in positions of trust and authority who abuse children. Zero.' A special agent with Homeland Security, Timothy Ryan Gregg, 51, of Eagan, was charged Monday in U.S. District Court with producing child sexual abuse material after federal authorities say images and videos of the two engaged in sexual activity were found on her cellphone on May 29. 'When those who take an oath to uphold the law become the ones who break it in the most egregious way, it erodes the public's faith in our institutions,' said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. 'We are seeing a troubling pattern — multiple arrests in recent months involving individuals in positions of authority charged with exploiting children. Let one thing be clear: position and power will not shield you from accountability. If you harm a child, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will find you. And no matter who you are, we will bring you to justice.' Crowley was ordered Friday to remain in custody pending further proceedings. Man once convicted in Minnesota of supporting al-Qaida is now charged in Canada for alleged threats Jury finds Milwaukee man guilty of killing and dismembering 19-year-old woman 'We feel relief': Derrick Thompson found guilty in Minneapolis crash that killed five young women Man charged with hate crime in Boulder attack on 'Zionist people' appears in federal court Minneapolis man sentenced for stabbing, hanging St. Paul woman's dog after argument
2 hours ago
Investigators looking at who sent Hegseth's Signal texts, whether they were told to delete them, sources say
Pentagon investigators are looking into whether Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally wrote the text messages detailing the military's plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen or whether other staffers typed out those details, according to two people familiar with the ongoing probe. The Defense Department's Office of Inspector General has spent several weeks interviewing Hegseth's current and former staff members to figure out how United States strike details taken from a classified system wound up in a commercial messaging app known as Signal. "Because this is one of the DOD IG's ongoing projects, in accordance with our policy we do not provide the scope or details to protect the integrity of the process and avoid compromising the evaluation," DOD IG spokesperson Mollie Halperin told ABC News. The details were relayed in two chat groups that included Hegseth - one with Vice President JD Vance and other high-ranking officials, and a second one that included Hegseth's wife, who is not employed by the government. It remains unclear how soon the findings will be released. Hegseth is scheduled to testify for the first time as defense secretary on Tuesday, where Democratic lawmakers are expected to question his handling of classified and sensitive information. The sharing of the details reportedly occurred around the same time in mid-March when key members of President Donald Trump's National Security Council, including Hegseth, inadvertently shared details about the March 15 missile strike in Yemen with the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Much of the same content was shared in the second encrypted chat with family members and others -- a chat group that Hegseth had created on his personal phone during his confirmation process that included his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, the two officials told ABC News. In addition to looking at whether the information was classified and who wrote it, investigators are also asking whether any staff members were asked by Hegseth or others to delete messages, according to one person familiar with the IG probe. The government is required under law to retain federal communications as official records.
