LUBBOCK, Texas - Jose Angel Zapata, 24, of San Angelo, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 168 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in April 2015 to two counts of enticement of a minor and aiding and abetting, announced U.S. Attorney John R. Parker of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
According to documents filed in the case, beginning in March 2014 and continuing to approximately mid-December 2014, Zapata engaged in a relationship with “Jane Doe 2," using Facebook chat, in which he knowingly attempted to persuade, induce and entice “Jane Doe 2" to engage in sexual activity with him. Zapata knew that “Jane Doe 2" was under age 17. In March 2014, Zapata met her in a parking lot in San Angelo where they engaged in sexual activity.
From approximately September 2014 to early March 2015, Zapata also engaged in a relationship, using Facebook chat, with “Jane Doe 4," a minor female. In those communications, Zapata knowingly attempted to persuade, induce and entice “Jane Doe 4" to engage in various sexual acts with him. Zapata knew she was under age 17. In his first communication with “Jane Doe 4," Zapata offered to pay her $100 if she would engage in a specific sex act with him. The following month, “Jane Doe 4" asked Zapata to give her a ride. He asked her if she would do anything for him if he gave her a ride, and she agreed that she would. Approximately one week later, Zapata met with “Jane Doe 4," and they engaged in sexual activity.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
