Jose Gomez, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been sentenced to life in prison for the horrific crime of trafficking a young girl for commercial sexual activity.
The announcement, made by Attorney General James Uthmeier, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson, and Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri, sent a clear message: Florida has zero tolerance for the exploitation of children.
The case has ignited a fierce debate, with Attorney General Uthmeier directly attributing the crime’s preventability to what he called the “now-defunct Biden administration” and its immigration policies.
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“This crime was preventable, and if the now-defunct Biden administration upheld the rule of law, it’s unlikely this child would be the victim of such a heinous crime,” stated Uthmeier. “This predator illegal alien human trafficker coerced an innocent child into prostitution and raped her, and now he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
State Attorney Bill Gladson echoed the sentiment of unwavering commitment to justice. “This conviction signifies a crucial milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking,” Gladson declared. “Furthermore, it serves as a clear message: we maintain a zero-tolerance stance toward human trafficking and the exploitation of children in our community.”
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri lauded the dedicated efforts of his department, specifically Senior Detectives Wayne Perry Jr. and Trevor Crowther, whose investigation led to Gomez’s arrest. “This team ensured that the individual who preyed on a vulnerable person was brought to justice and will never prey on anyone again,” said Chief Capri.
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Gomez, who overstayed a visa granted in 2021, was initially charged with sexual battery, false imprisonment, and resisting an officer without violence.
However, through legal review by the State Attorney’s Office, the charges were upgraded to include human trafficking of a child under 18 for commercial sexual activity, and three counts of lewd or lascivious battery on a child aged 12-15.
A Lake County jury found Gomez guilty on all counts. He received a life sentence for human trafficking, along with 27 years and 14 days for each of the lewd and lascivious battery charges, which will run concurrently.
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