Man Sentenced 50 Years For Sex Ring
Juan Mendez Found Guilty Of Rape, Running Brothel

POSTED: 3:46 pm CDT June 28, 2008


MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A Nashville man that prosecutors said lured two young Mexican girls to the United States and forced them into prostitution has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison.

Juan Mendez of Nashville was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen in Jackson on Friday and was ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution to one victim and $40,000 to the other.

The girls testified that at the ages of 14 and 17 they came from southern Mexico in 2005 with promises of jobs at a Nashville restaurant. Instead, they said Mendez raped them and threatened to kill their families if they did not work for him as prostitutes in Memphis, Nashville and other locations.

Ten other defendants have pleaded guilty in the investigation into the brothels.
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