2 sentenced for sex trafficking minor at Bloomington hotel

A woman and a man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to sex trafficking a minor were sentenced on Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office — District of Minnesota.

Maria Zambrano Zavala, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor in April and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Humberto Rangel-Torres, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to six years in prison, court documents show.

From March to May 2019, Zambrano Zavala had transported a minor to a Bloomington hotel where Rangel-Torres lived at the time. On at least three occasions during this time period, Rangel-Torres arranged for commercial sex acts with the minor through Zambrano Zavala and paid with cash.

"These defendants knowingly engaged in the sexual exploitation of a child for their own selfish gains," acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk said in a statement. "Criminals who victimize and abuse children in this way will be investigated, prosecuted, and imprisoned."

In addition to their prison sentences, U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud also sentenced Zambrano Zavala to 10 years of supervised release and Rangel-Torres to five years of supervised release.