Bridgeport Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Minor Sex Trafficking
A 39-year-old woman from Bridgeport, Connecticut, was sentenced to six years in prison today for trafficking minors for prostitution, despite an initial 15-year sentence handed down by a judge.
Teresa Martinez pleaded guilty in August to trafficking in persons and risk of injury to a minor in Stamford Superior Court. Judge Colleen Zingaro sentenced Martinez on October 3 to 15 years, but suspended execution of the sentence after six years, followed by five years of probation. The reduced sentence was part of a plea agreement. An investigation revealed Martinez arranged transportation for three minors from Bridgeport to a Norwalk hotel for the purpose of prostitution, beginning in late 2020. All victims were under the age of 18, with one minor being under 16.
Court documents indicate Martinez arranged for one minor to receive $200 for sexual services, retaining $100 of the payment for herself. Norwalk Police corroborated the details through interviews with the minors and hotel records, confirming the dates and cash payments made by a co-defendant who reserved the hotel rooms. This case highlights the devastating impact of human trafficking on vulnerable youth.
A criminal case against the co-defendant remains pending in Stamford Superior Court. The Department of Justice estimates that hundreds of thousands of individuals are trafficked each year, making cases like these a critical focus for law enforcement. Connecticut’s Division of Criminal Justice is actively working to combat this issue.
Authorities stated the co-defendant’s case will proceed as scheduled, and they continue to offer support services to the victims involved.
