After Pimping Minors, Man Sentenced To 28 Years For Human Trafficking

BELMONT SHORE, CA – After being convicted of human trafficking and pimping a minor girl, as well as pimping and pandering two additional women, a Long Beach man was sentenced to 28 years in state prison Monday. Marcus Ramon Santos, 34, was convicted for crimes that occurred between July 2013 and July 2015, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Santos used social media to contact one of his victims, which authorities identified as Jane Doe 2, before pimping and pandering her by convincing her to engage in commercial sex for his benefit, officials said. Between Oct. 1, 2014 and March 1, 2015, Santos met another one of his victims, identified by authorities as Jane Doe 3, and trafficked, pimped and pandered her by convincing her to come with him from Las Vegas to places known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County.

Mainly using social media, he showed Jane Doe 3 how to post sexually explicit photos on websites known for prostitution and to set up meetings with potential sex purchasers, officials said.

Santos imposed a strict daily quota of $1,200 and took all of the money Jane Doe 3 received from engaging in commercial sex to pay off his debt. He also was convicted of being physically violent with Jane Doe 3 if she did not follow his instructions.

Between June 28, 2015, and July 8, 2015, Santos trafficked a 15-year-old girl by driving her to Orange County to perform commercial sex acts for his benefit, officials said.

In July 2015, the crimes were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and two of his victims, including the minor, were found by authorities at a Costa Mesa motel room reserved under Santos' name. The case was investigated and Santos was arrested Sept. 17, 2015.

"Santos is a human trafficker/pimp who exploits women and children for financial gain," said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

Santos also was sentenced to mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for the crimes.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post

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