Charlotte Man, Along with Wife and Mother, Facing Sex Trafficking Charges

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte man, his wife, and his mother are facing federal charges for engaging in a conspiracy to sex traffic three minors.

A federal grand jury returned the eight count indictment on April 20th, 2017, charging Zerrell Ross Fuentes, Brianna Leshay Wright (a.k.a. Brianna Fuentes) and Tanya Marie Fuentes with one count of sex trafficking conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution. Brianna Wright and Tanya Fuentes are also charged with one additional count of sex trafficking of a minor.

The federal indictment alleges that between April 28th, 2016 and May 8, 2016, the three defendants conspired with each other to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide and obtain by any means three minors, for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts. The indictment also alleges that the minors were transported across state lines for the purposes of prostitution.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that Zerrell Fuentes, while in jail, used a telephone to recruit three minor victims living in Charlotte to engage in commercial sex acts for his benefit, knowing they were not yet 18 years of age. The indictment further alleges that Zerrell Fuentes used the telephone to arrange for the minor victims’ transportation from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach. The proceeds from the conspiracy were believed to be used to pay Zerrell Fuentes’ bond so he could get out of jail.

Brianna Wright, along with Tanya Fuentes, transported the minors to Myrtle Beach by car. Once there, Tanya Fuentes paid for lodging herself, along with Wright and the two victim minors. The indictment also alleges that Wright facilitated the placement of advertisements on the Internet, advertising the minor victims for commercial sex acts. She also provided her own telephone number on ads, as a means of communication to arrange “dates” between the minors and customers. Wright also transported to minor victims to and from the arranged prostitution “dates.”

Zerrell Fuentes is currently in custody on a federal firearms violation and will appear in court on the sex trafficking charges. Brianna Wright and Tanya Fuentes will have their court appearances Monday, April 24th, before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Cayer.

The penalty for each of the eight sex trafficking related offenses is a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, along with a $250,000 fine.