Missing NJ Teen Was Sex Trafficked In Essex County, Prosecutors Say

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An Essex County man has been accused of sex trafficking a missing, 13-year-old girl. Two other North Jersey residents have been charged with sexual assault, state prosecutors announced Thursday.

According to the New Jersey attorney general’s office, state and local police found the teen in East Orange in August 2025.

The missing girl was under the custody of the New Jersey Division of Child Protection & Permanency at the time, prosecutors said.

The juvenile told police that Mickael Derius, 30, picked her up in his car in Newark while she was walking with a friend. Derius and another unknown man then sexually assaulted the girls – paying them $300 afterwards, prosecutors alleged.

Derius, a Newark resident, continued to meet with both girls for “commercial sex” after their initial encounter. He met with the 13-year-old three times, authorities alleged.

Prosecutors didn’t specify how many times the other girl met with Derius.

Derius also began setting the 13-year-old up on “plays” with other men for money in July and August 2025. One of those men was Terry D. Nero, 44, of Elizabeth, prosecutors alleged.

Another man – and Jonathan O. Ramirez, 29, of East Orange – told investigators he met the juvenile through social media and had sex with her in February 2025, filming the assaults as they took place, authorities said.

On Thursday, the state attorney general’s office announced that the following charges have been filed:

• Mickael Derius is charged with first-degree human trafficking of a minor; first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a minor by aiding and abetting; first-degree promoting prostitution of a minor; two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a minor; and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child
• Terry Nero is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a minor by aiding and abetting; four counts of second-degree sexual assault of a minor; second-degree promoting prostitution of a minor, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child
• Jonathan Ramirez is charged with four counts of first-degree manufacturing and filming the sexual assault of a minor; second-degree sexual assault of a minor; and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child

The initial police response included participation from the New Jersey State Police Human Trafficking Unit, the Newark Police Department, and the East Orange Police Department.

Authorities said potential sex or labor-related human trafficking can be reported to the Division of Criminal Justice’s 24-hour NJ Human Trafficking Hotline 1-855-END-NJ-HT. Potential internet-related abuse can be reported to the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 888-648-6007.

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