A 34-year-old man, Juven Pineda, has been arrested and charged with second-degree rape and human trafficking after allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl to settle a $13,500 debt he claimed she and her family owed him, according to Louisiana police.
Arrest and Extradition
Pineda was captured in North Carolina and transferred to the custody of investigators in Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans. A bail commissioner ordered him held without bond on June 10 pending the outcome of the case.
Details of the Case
Police in Kenner released a media statement emphasizing that human trafficking often occurs behind closed doors and victims are frequently afraid to come forward. Chief Keith Conley urged the public to report suspicious activity, stating that a single phone call could save a victim from exploitation.
Investigators learned of the case through an email from a local paralegal whose law firm represented a client born in November 2002 who had been trafficked from Honduras to Kenner via Mexico. The client now lives in North Carolina.
Pineda allegedly helped smuggle the girl's father into the United States and later brought the girl in May 2019 when she was 16, ostensibly for free. Weeks later, her father brought her to a home in New Orleans. After a few months, she moved into Pineda's home near the New Orleans airport in Kenner, where he informed her she owed $13,500 in debts.
Pineda threatened to harm her family in Honduras if she did not settle the debt, which she could do by becoming his "woman." This meant cleaning his house, living with him as a couple, and being raped repeatedly.
In early 2020, Pineda brought her to North Carolina and raped her there. She told investigators she felt like a prisoner and was not free to leave.
Legal Proceedings
Investigators obtained a warrant in March 2024. North Carolina highway patrol detained Pineda on April 24, and he was extradited to Kenner by June 5. He faces three counts of second-degree rape and one count of human trafficking.
Second-degree rape in Louisiana carries a sentence of 5 to 40 years in prison. Human trafficking carries up to 20 years, with possible enhancements.
Support Resources
For anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse, support is available. In the US, RAINN offers help at 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis can be reached at 0808 500 2222. In Australia, 1800Respect (1800 737 732) provides assistance. International helplines are listed at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html.
