Transporting Woman, Commercial Sex Friday, Share Facebook — Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Transporting Woman to Engage in Commercial Sex | United States Justice Department.
announcement Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Transporting Woman to Engage in Commercial Sex Friday, November 7, 2025 Share Facebook X LinkedIn Email For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A 42-year-old citizen of Mexico has been ordered to prison after recruiting an 18-year-old victim from Mexico, abusing her, and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts in Houston, Texas.Clemente Melendez Gutierrez was sentenced today to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty in August to one count of transportation for the purposes of prostitution.“The defendant preyed upon
this vulnerable victim and used physical abuse to coerce her to travel to the United States to engage in commercial sex for his own financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. While no prison sentence can erase the pain and trauma his victims endured, our hope is that today’s outcome represents accountability, justice and a step toward healing and hope.”“With today’s sentence, we have removed a dangerous predator from the community who used physical and sexual abuse, threats of violence and psychological manipulation to groom and control his victims and force
them to engage in commercial sex for his own profit,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “This sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s conduct, and the DOJ will relentlessly prosecute and hold accountable sex traffickers.”“The damage inflicted by this defendant is immeasurable. Between 2005 and 2021, Melendez repeated this pattern of conduct multiple times with different women and girls.The FBI Houston Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission investigated the case.“Today’s sentence brings long-awaited, and overdue, justice for the victim who was subjected to years of abuse and exploitation