Today, Attorney General James Uthmeier joined Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson and Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri to announce the sentencing of Jose Gomez. Gomez, an illegal alien from Mexico who overstayed a visa granted by the Biden administration in 2021, received a life sentence for trafficking a young girl for commercial sexual activity.
“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 Attorney General James 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. I applaud the work of State Attorney Gladson in securing a life sentence against this criminal alien.”
State Attorney Bill Gladson remarked on the significance of this conviction: “This conviction signifies a crucial milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking. 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 praised his team’s efforts: “This team ensured that the individual who preyed on a vulnerable person was brought to justice and will never prey on anyone again. We will continue to ensure that the citizens of Eustis and Lake County are protected from individuals, such as Jose Gomez. I am proud of Senior Detectives Wayne Perry Jr. and Trevor Crowther for their hard work and dedication during this investigation.”
The Eustis Police Department’s investigation led to Gomez’s arrest. Initially charged with sexual battery, false imprisonment, and resisting an officer without violence, further legal review by the State Attorney’s Office upgraded these charges to 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.
Gomez was found guilty by a Lake County jury. He received a life sentence for human trafficking along with concurrent sentences of 27 years and 14 days for each count of lewd or lascivious battery.
