Oklahoma Man Convicted of Attempted Sex Trafficking
An Oklahoman has been found guilty of attempted sex trafficking involving minors following a sting operation. Braulio Luna, 59, was caught trying to purchase an 11-year-old girl for sexual purposes, unaware that he was communicating with an undercover police officer posing as a trafficker.
According to Maj. Adam Flowers from the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, the operation involved officers placing advertisements as if they were mothers looking to sell their young daughters.
“Mr. Luna responded to the ad and began making arrangements to buy an 11-year-old child for sexual encounters,” Flowers explained to KFOR-TV.
In a rather revealing gesture, Luna brought along a McDonald’s Happy Meal to entice the fictitious girl, which authorities interpreted as a clear indication of his intention to exploit a minor.
However, instead of finding his target, Luna was approached by law enforcement at his hotel on August 29, 2024, leading to his arrest.
During interrogation, Luna confessed to having harmed children in the past, prompting police to work on identifying any potential victims. “This is somewhat of a cold case. We know they’re out there, but we just don’t know who they are,” Flowers noted, emphasizing the challenges in tracing past events.
Having pleaded guilty to felony child exploitation, Luna has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, of which he must serve at least 18 years before being eligible for release. Additionally, he indicated that he would likely be deported to his home country following his prison term. Although previously a legal resident of the U.S., he was not a citizen.
In related issues, Flowers highlighted that traffickers often utilize common apps such as Snapchat, Tinder, and Facebook to find victims. “There are numerous websites that facilitate this kind of illegal activity,” he added. “People sell themselves for sex, exploiting families, foster care systems, and children, often using coded language to communicate their intentions.”
