Nine Venezuelan Criminal Aliens Plead Guilty in Nashville Sex Trafficking Ring
Mother-son-led operation recruited women with false job promises, forced them into commercial sex work under threat of violence and inflated smuggling debts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nine Venezuelan nationals who were in the United States illegally have pleaded guilty to human trafficking, alien smuggling, and money laundering charges for operating a sex trafficking ring out of several motels in Nashville, federal prosecutors announced today.
According to court documents, the defendants orchestrated a scheme targeting vulnerable Venezuelan women, recruiting them to the U.S. with promises of employment. After arranging and facilitating their smuggling into the country, the defendants directed the women to Nashville, where they were told they owed an inflated smuggling debt that could only be repaid through commercial sex work. Those who resisted faced threats of physical harm against themselves and their families in Venezuela, prosecutors said.
The defendants profited by taking a cut of the women’s earnings in addition to collecting on the inflated debts.
Yilibeth Carmen Rivero-de Caldera and her son, Kleiver Daniel Mota Rivero, led and managed the trafficking operation. Rivero enlisted her adult children and their spouses, Mota’s girlfriend, and others to take on various roles. Rivero, Mota, and defendant Ramon De Jesus Velasquez Martinez used threats of violence, including wielding firearms, to intimidate and force compliance from the women.
To further intimidate victims, Mota and other defendants engaged in conduct that made the women believe Mota was affiliated with a Venezuelan prison gang and openly spoke about his prior prison term for homicide in Venezuela.
Six other defendants — Wilmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano, Endrik Alexander Morales-Rivero, Ariannys Beatriz Gutierrez-Carrillo, Frankyanna Del Valle Romero-Rivero, Jesus Enrique Castillo Rodriguez, and Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca — arranged or aided the smuggling of victims, posted online commercial sex advertisements, set up appointments, and collected proceeds from the commercial sex acts.
“Human smuggling and trafficking operations represent a dangerous convergence of exploitation and lawlessness,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These perpetrators profited off human suffering while chipping away at the integrity of our border. These convictions show that protecting vulnerable individuals and securing our border are not competing goals.”
Rivero, Mota, Romero, and Morales pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy, conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Castillo pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Gutierrez, Gomez, and Velasquez pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy. Manzano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and money laundering conspiracy.
The charges carry a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison for eight of the defendants, while Manzano faces up to 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for the week of Nov. 16.
U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee said the organization exploited vulnerable women and showed complete disregard for human dignity and the rule of law. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold human traffickers accountable, dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating in our communities, and ensure justice for victims,” Boucek said.
Virginia Tax Preparer and Museum Guide Convicted of Possessing 4 Million Child Sexual Abuse Images
Nathaniel Carey Lee found guilty after undercover investigation on peer-to-peer network uncovered massive collection of CSAM
SPRINGFIELD, Va. — A Virginia tax preparer and Franconia museum guide was convicted today by a district court judge on federal charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material over multiple years, prosecutors announced.
Nathaniel Carey Lee, 39, of Springfield, was found guilty on two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography following a bench trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began an undercover investigation in December 2022 into a user requesting CSAM files on the peer-to-peer file sharing network Freenet. Further investigation revealed the user was Lee.
In June 2024, agents with Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence and seized multiple devices that were later found to contain a large volume of images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. During an interview with law enforcement, Lee admitted to possessing approximately 4 million images of CSAM and child erotica.
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2027. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Former Gymnastics Coach and Social Media Creator Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation Scheme
Theresa Mitchell admitted to conspiring with co-defendant to produce and sell images of minors, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A former gymnastics coach and social media content creator pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges stemming from a scheme to produce and sell child sexual abuse material, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars through online platforms, prosecutors announced.
Theresa Mitchell, 44, formerly of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to produce and distribute child pornography, two counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, between 2023 and 2025, Mitchell conspired with Christopher Buckeridge to produce and sell images of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. She sold and distributed those images and videos to customers on social media platforms, messaging applications, and subscription-based websites.
Buckeridge also sent Mitchell hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including material that depicted the sadistic sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Ultimately, Mitchell received hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling the illicit material.
On March 17, a federal magistrate judge issued arrest warrants for Mitchell and Buckeridge. Mitchell was arrested by federal agents in central Pennsylvania on March 19 and remains in custody.
“The defendant exploited her positions of trust to prey on children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This guilty plea demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who profit from the sexual exploitation of children.”
Mitchell faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years on the child pornography production and conspiracy counts. She also faces up to 20 years on the receipt, possession, and money laundering conspiracy counts. Mitchell will be required to pay restitution to her victims and register as a sex offender. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14.
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