An MS-13 gang member from Alexandria is accused of running a prostitution ring using underage girls who had run away from home.
Federal prosecutors allege that Alexander Rivas transported girls who had run away from their homes to work as prostitutes in Virginia, Maryland and the District. In court documents, prosecutors say he also threatened and robbed clients who didn’t pay for services.
Rivas, 18, built his prostitution business from men who came to his apartment to buy beer from his brothers, according to charging documents. On a typical Friday or Saturday night, the documents say, he would have about 100 clients lined up for his prostitution service.
Rivas has been charged with sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion. He was arrested Feb. 11, and documents in the case were unsealed this week. His attorney didn’t return a call for comment.
Authorities were tipped off to Rivas’ prostitution service when the father of a 14-year-old girl who had run away flagged down an Alexandria police officer. The father told the officer he suspected his daughter was staying with Rivas, court records say.
An FBI agent wrote in an affidavit that police found the girl at Rivas’ apartment, and she told authorities that Rivas had used her as a prostitute.
A 17-year-old girl who had run away from home also told investigators that she stayed with Rivas while on the run and that he used her as a prostitute.
On several occasions, Rivas threatened clients who didn’t want to pay full price, according to court documents.
The 17-year-old girl reported that Rivas would carry a machete, which he nicknamed “his wife,” with him while driving her to prostitution appointments. When four men tried to avoid paying, Rivas went into the apartment and told the girl to leave, court records say. He later returned to the car and “had apparently gotten all the money” the men owed.
In a separate instance, when three men refused to pay for services, Rivas hit one of them, then brandished a handgun and robbed them of $1,200, according to court documents. In an interview with investigators, Rivas said he challenged the men to call police, and told them, “What are you going to say? That you got robbed after having sex with a minor?”
Rivas also told the investigators he was a member of MS-13.
A judge has ordered Rivas to remain in custody pending a Friday preliminary hearing.
