A Venezuelan national residing illegally in the United States has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Utah on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Jorge Luis Tejera, 40, was living in Chicago before his arrest and was initially charged by complaint on December 19, 2025.
According to court documents, Homeland Security agents began investigating a transnational criminal organization called “Desastre” in November 2024 for its suspected involvement in human trafficking. The investigation found that individuals working for Desastre allegedly forced vulnerable people into commercial sex work for financial gain. Authorities identified Tejera as a key figure in this operation, which targeted Venezuelan nationals and compelled them to participate in commercial sex work to pay off debts related to their transportation and smuggling into the United States.
Investigators have reportedly identified multiple victims connected to this case. One victim alleged to have been trafficked directly by Tejera had their young child taken from their custody. Threats were made against both the victim and the child if the victim did not continue engaging in commercial sex work.
Tejera and others involved, most of whom are also believed to be living illegally in the country, frequently possessed firearms and used them to enforce compliance. Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Additional individuals linked to an offshoot of this operation have also been accused of threatening witnesses and victims connected with another ongoing case (case number 2:25-cr-00141).
Tejera is scheduled for his initial appearance on February 5, 2026 at 1:30 p.m., at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah announced the indictment.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations division is leading the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, a national initiative focused on combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts between several Department of Justice programs including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
“An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
