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Zona Divas leader captured in Playa del Carmen sentenced to 39 years

Mexico City, Mexico — A federal judge has sentenced a man captured in Playa del Carmen to more than 39 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of women.

The Attorney General’s Office says that the Federal Public Ministry obtained a conviction of 39 years and four months in prison along with a 1.5 million peso fine against a man criminally responsible for the crimes of aggravated trafficking in persons and sexual exploitation.

The complaint made by a victim originated the investigation carried out by the federal social representative assigned to the Special Prosecutor for Crimes of Violence against Women and Trafficking in Persons of the Special Prosecutor’s Office in Human Rights.

Due to the complaint and following investigations, Edgar Manuel Martínez was sentenced to 39 years and four months the Eastern Preventive Prison by a judge in the Federal Justice Center in Mexico City.

Edgar Manuel Martínez, who was associated with the sexual exploitation of seven women through the now defunct website, Zona Divas, was captured in Playa del Carmen in April of this year along with Antonio Santoyo Cervantes, owner of the website.

The pair were taken into federal police custody from a beach resort in Playa del Carmen due to an arrest warrant issued by a Mexico City court. The pair were accused of forming a network of recruitment and sexual exploitation against thousands of women from other countries.

The women were lured to Mexico City with the promise of work, however, when they arrived, they were mistreated and subjected to sexual exploitation.

Along with the two accused are also two more accomplices.