Crime & Safety

FBI: MS-13 Member's Child Prostitute Ring Serviced Clients in Fairfax

FBI believes man exploited runaways for self-made child prostitute ring.

A Fairfax County man pleaded guilty Monday to sex trafficking teenage runaways as part of his juvenile prostitution business. His victims serviced clients all over Northern Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland, notably in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church and Woodbridge.

Alonso Bruno Cornejo, aka “Casper,” 22, a Peruvian-born U.S. citizen and self-proclaimed member of MS-13, admitted that he ran a prostitution ring of juvenile girls. He told police he started the ring in August 2009.

Cornejo pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of children Monday morning. He faces 10 years to life in prison.

“This case serves as an example that child prostitution takes place in our own towns and neighborhoods,” said Special Agent Ronald Hosko, who is in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office. “Our society has no place for those who prey on children and no tolerance for those who lure children into prostitution or sex trafficking.” 

FBI and Fairfax County Police investigations revealed Cornejo preyed on juvenile runaways who were desperate for shelter and support. He promised them money and narcotics if they serviced his clients.

Much of the evidence against Cornejo came from three other MS-13 members who alleged that they saw Cornejo prostitute juveniles and promote his prostitution ring to clients, according to an affidavit filed by the FBI in April.

"[A witness] stated that Cornejo set up approximately six-to-seven prostitution appointments a day and generally profited $400-500 on weekdays and $800-900 during a weekend day," the affidavit said. Cornejo allegedly shared a little bit of the profits with his victims.

His prostitution ring frequented certain areas, so much so that an unidentified Falls Church hotel gave Cornejo a discount because he rented rooms so often, the affidavit said. Cornejo also used a Super 8 Motel in Manassas, his mother's house and locations within the Four Mile Run area of Arlington, according to witness statements.

A victim, who claimed she was 15 years old at the time she started prostituting for Cornejo, said she was taken to the noted locations and more, including Annandale and Little River Turnpike, according to the affidavit.      

"Cornejo managed all aspects of his prostitution ring: He recruited the young, vulnerable women to serve as prostitutes, obtained clients, scheduled the prostitution appointments, collected the money that was paid for sexual intercourse, transported the juvenile females to the prostitution appointments, and instructed the juveniles how to engage in sexual intercourse with the paying customers," read an FBI press release.     

Click here to read the full affidavit.


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