Trenton, NJ – A months-long investigation into the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl led state prosecutors to file serious criminal charges Thursday against three New Jersey men accused of trafficking and sexually exploiting the child, authorities said.
According to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Mickael Derius, 30, of Newark, Terry D. Nero, 44, of Elizabeth, and Jonathan O. Ramirez, 29, of East Orange were each charged for their alleged roles in crimes involving the minor, who had been reported missing in Newark and was under state supervision at the time.
Investigators said Derius allegedly encountered the victim while she was walking in Newark and later arranged multiple meetings in which the child was exploited for commercial sex. Prosecutors allege Derius also facilitated encounters between the victim and other men, including Nero, during July and August.
Ramirez is accused of meeting the victim through social media and allegedly sexually assaulting her beginning earlier in the year. Authorities said several of the alleged assaults were recorded, forming the basis for multiple first-degree charges.
The victim was located by the New Jersey State Police Human Trafficking Unit with assistance from local police departments. Prosecutors said the investigation involved coordination among state and local agencies.
All three defendants have been charged with multiple felony counts. First-degree charges in New Jersey carry potential prison sentences of up to 20 years. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The case is being prosecuted by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.
