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July 22, 2003
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced that Rafael Warren pled guilty yesterday to transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of prostitution.
Mr. Warren, 35, of Richmond, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury on August 29, 2002. He was charged with transporting a person across state lines for the purpose of prostitution and transporting a minor for the same purpose in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2421 and 2423(a). Under the plea agreement, Mr. Warren pled guilty to the more serious count of transporting a minor.
In pleading guilty, Mr. Warren admitted to purchasing a bus ticket for a minor to travel from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to California. Mr. Warren admitted that he arranged for the young woman's travel with the intent that she engage in prostitution when she arrived in California.
The sentencing of Mr. Warren is scheduled for October 6, 2003 at 2 p.m. before Judge Claudia Wilken in Oakland. The maximum statutory penalty for Mr. Warren's offense is 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, the actual sentence be dictated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and will be imposed in the discretion of the Court. The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 10 years in prison. If Judge Wilken accepts the plea agreement, she will impose that sentence. If Judge Wilken does not accept the agreement, Mr. Warren will be free to withdraw his plea of guilty and would then face a trial.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by agents of the FBI with the cooperation of the Ottawa, Ontario police department. Mark Parrent is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Margaret Glyer and Ji Won Yi.
A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office's website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can. Related court documents and information may be found on the District Court website at www.cand.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.cand.uscourts/gov.
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Jacobs at (415)436-7181.
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