Jury Convicts local man for sex trafficking 15-year-old

HOUSTON – A 31-year-old man who resided in Houston has been found guilty for trafficking a minor female for commercial sex using force, fraud or coercion, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jury deliberated for approximately five hours before returning a guilty verdict against Giovanny Xavier Limon aka Ace or Ace One following a three-day trial.

Limon trafficked a 15-year-old minor female for commercial sex during May and June 2022. The girl was forced to engage in commercial sex with strangers on numerous occasions and had to turn over all proceeds to Limon and his associates. 

Limon, twice her age, forced her to use meth and photographed her in lingerie he and others had provided. Those photographs, among others, were used to advertise the minor on the internet. The jury saw evidence of how Limon displayed his moniker in the photos used in the commercial sex ads leaving little doubt who was controlling the minor’s actions. 

The jury also heard how Limon harbored the minor in several hotels as well as residences his family members controlled.

She testified at trial and described how Limon often carried a knife, supplied her with drugs, tattooed her arm, intimidated her and destroyed her will to live. 

“Meth, a gun, and intimidation. Those were the tools Limon used to exploit and traffic a young girl for his own financial benefit– a child who then lost her will for life itself,” said Hamdani. “This conviction ensures he can never do this to another child and sends a message to anyone who wants to use our children for commercial sex – we will find you and bring you to justice.”

The defense attempted to convince the jury that the girl was acting alone and Limon was just a scapegoat so she would not get in trouble at home when she returned. They did not believe those claims and found Limon guilty.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over trial and set sentencing for Oct. 26. At that time, Limon faces up to life in federal prison.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Zack and Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case.

HTRA law enforcement includes members of the Houston Police Department, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor (DOL), DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety,  Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration – OIG and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.

Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.