UNION, NJ – A Union County man and woman were arrested and charged after being accusing of promoting prostitution with a 14-year-old girl in September.
According to police, Rony D. Game-Palacios, 30, was charged with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and Valdirene Nogueira, 45, is charged with first-degree promoting prostitution of a child, third-degree promoting prostitution, third-degree compelling another to engage in prostitution and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
In September 2022, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit received a referral from the Union Police Department regarding the reported sexual assault of a 14-year-old female. According to Assistant Prosecutor Peter Benza, who is prosecuting the case, the investigation revealed that the victim was sexually assaulted by Game-Palacios after Nogueira coerced her into having sex with him for money.
This remains an active investigation, and anyone with information about this matter or these defendants is urged to contact Special Victims Unit Detective Jessica Tattoli at 908-965-3885 or Detective Sergeant Nicholas Veltre at 908-965-3812.