A Long Beach man is heading to the slammer for nine years after a fed-up judge sentenced him Monday for trafficking two underage girls across state lines and selling them for sex. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that 26-year-old Deonathan Abdul Gaston took a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old from Arizona to California, then to San Diego, to engage in prostitution in August 2023.

The case broke open after National City Police stopped Gaston for a traffic violation, and the situation escalated quickly when he had to call his "girlfriend" to pick up his car because he was driving without a license. That girlfriend turned out to be the missing teen from Arizona, after being reported missing, she and the other victim were found in a hotel known for activities connected to the flesh trade.

"Selling children for sex is a reprehensible crime that impacts victims for a lifetime," U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath stated, emphasizing the need for societal vigilance and reporting of any suspicious activities that might help to protect those who are vulnerable to such predatory crimes. McGrath's comments highlight the grim reality that today's means of exploitation, especially that of minors, often begins with a sinister grooming process unfolding within the digital realm.

Gaston, who had befriended one of the girls when she was 14, was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lyndzie M. Carter and Derek Ko. He faced a maximum penalty, which could have landed him in prison for ten years along with a hefty fine of $250,000, but the court handed down a sentence of nine years instead.

Should you suspect human trafficking or find yourself in a threatening situation, reach out to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 or text BeFree (233733).