FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Three Charged in Weekend Human Trafficking Operation

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Miami (April 22, 2024)

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, City of Miami Police Chief Manuel A. Morales, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Secret Service announce the arrests of 28-year-old Santiago Salazar Venegas, 26-year-old Pedro Perez Rivera and 38-year-old Ubilder Moises Velasquez after a joint operation in which HSI posted an online advertisement, supposedly by a “mother” offering her “underage daughters” (13 and 15 years old) for sex. Salazar Venegas, Perez Rivera and Velasquez each responded to the ad separately and negotiated for pre-agreed sex acts in exchange for money. These investigations were a part of ongoing anti-Human Trafficking efforts being undertaken in advance of the upcoming Formula One events coming to Miami-Dade County from May 3rd through May 5th. As has been well recognized, major sporting events tend to increase Human Trafficking activity in the event’s general area.

“Those seeking to have sexual contact with our children will face a surprise if they come to Miami-Dade County,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “All those agencies involved in fighting Human Trafficking, the Miami Police Department, members of my Human Trafficking Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Secret Service all want human traffickers to know, that if they come to Miami-Dade County, you will get arrested as you ply your ugly pursuits. You can count on that!”

Santiago Salazar Venegas is being charged with:

• 1 Count Human Trafficking of a Minor Life Felony
• 1 Count Traveling to Meet a Minor to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree Felony
• 1 Count Using an Electronic Device to Solicit a Parent to Consent to Sex Conduct with a Child 3rd Degree Felony
• 1 Count Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer 1st Degree Felony
• 1 Count Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding 2nd Degree Felony
• 1 Count Fleeing and Eluding 3rd Degree Felony

Pedro Perez Rivera is being charged with:

• 1 Count Human Trafficking of a Minor Life Felony
• 1 Count Traveling to Meet a Minor to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree Felony
• 1 Count Using an Electronic Device to Solicit a Parent to Consent to Sex Conduct with a Child 3rd Degree Felony

Ubilder Moises Velasquez is being charged with:

• 1 Count Human Trafficking of a Minor Life Felony
• 1 Count Traveling to Meet a Minor to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree Felony
• 1 Count Using an Electronic Device to Solicit a Parent to Consent to Sex Conduct with a Child 3rd Degree Felony

As part of the undercover operation, a contact was made through an online ad in which an undercover officer, posing as the mother of 2 girls, ages 13 and 15, offered the girls for sexual contact. In three separate incidents, Salazar Venegas, Perez Rivera and Velasquez responded to the ads and sought sexual contact with the underage girls, knowing their ages as the contacts were being arranged.
All are being held without bond.