Illinois Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Trafficking Minor, Another Gets 5 Years for Meeting Teen

Jose Puga, a 52‑year‑old from Lake County, Illinois, pleaded guilty to involuntary sexual servitude of a 15‑year‑old and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was sentenced on July 22 to 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by 18 months of supervised release and mandatory sex‑offender registration. The case was investigated by the Lake County Special Investigations Group in partnership with the FBI’s Chicago Field Office and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Francisco Nanez, a 61‑year‑old from Oak Lawn, Cook County, pleaded guilty to traveling to meet a 13‑year‑old after exchanging explicit messages. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with credit for time already served, leaving about 87 days remaining. Nanez had previously had a life sentence for a 1986 arson overturned and received an $8 million settlement for a wrongful‑conviction claim.