DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Third Collegiate Court of the National District has sentenced José Rosario, Melvin Valentín Peguero, and Oscar de la Rosa, Dionicio Mieses de la Cruz, Zafiro Nathaly Sánchez González, Engel Neftalí Vargas Soto, Alejandro Arturo Batista Bustamante, Robert Lee Eleuterio Paniagua Díaz and María Paula Murillo Vargas to 20 years in prison and a fine equivalent to 150 minimum wages each for their roles as leaders of a sexual exploitation network within the framework of Operation Cattleya.

The court found the accused guilty of human trafficking, determining they operated an illegal network that facilitated sexual exploitation. Additionally, other defendants linked to the operation—José Michael, Daniel Abreu, Cristina González, and Braulio Lugo—were convicted of procuring and sentenced to three years in prison.

The men will serve their sentences at the Najayo Men’s Jail and the...