Attorney General James Uthmeier Supports State Attorney Bill Gladson in Securing Life Sentence for Illegal Alien who Trafficked, Sexually Battered Young Girl

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Release Date
Jun 3, 2025
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TAVARES, Fla.— Today, Attorney General Uthmeier joined Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson and Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri to announce that Jose Gomez, an illegal alien from Mexico who overstayed a visa granted by the Biden administration in 2021, has been sentenced to life in prison for trafficking a young girl for commercial sexual activity.

“This crime was preventable, and if the now-defunct Biden administration upheld the rule of law, it’s unlikely this child would be the victim of such a heinous crime,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This predator illegal alien human trafficker coerced an innocent child into prostitution and raped her, and now he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. I applaud the work of State Attorney Gladson in securing a life sentence against this criminal alien.”

“This conviction signifies a crucial milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson. “Furthermore, it serves as a clear message: we maintain a zero-tolerance stance toward human trafficking and the exploitation of children in our community.”

"This team ensured that the individual who preyed on a vulnerable person was brought to justice and will never prey on anyone again,” said Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri. “We will continue to ensure that the citizens of Eustis and Lake County are protected from individuals, such as Jose Gomez. I am proud of Senior Detectives Wayne Perry Jr. and Trevor Crowther for their hard work and dedication during this investigation.“

The investigation by the Eustis Police Department led to the defendant’s arrest. Gomez was initially charged with sexual battery, false imprisonment, and resisting an officer without violence. After further legal review, the State Attorney’s Office successfully upgraded the charges to:

  • Human trafficking of a child under 18 for commercial sexual activity, and
  • Three counts of lewd or lascivious battery on a child aged 12-15. 

Gomez was found guilty by a Lake County jury and sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking and 27 years 14 days for each of the lewd and lascivious battery charges that will run concurrently.

To watch today’s press conference, click here.

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