Utah man arrested, accused of human trafficking in case involving teen girl

WEST VALLEY CITY — A man who police say forced a teen girl into prostitution to pay for rent and drugs has been arrested for investigation of numerous charges following a multi-agency investigation.

Angelo Paul Sisneros, 38, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday for investigation of aggravated human trafficking, five counts of aggravated exploitation of prostitution involving a child, rape, forcible sodomy, drug distribution and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Investigators learned that Sisneros had known his victim since 2019 when she was 14 and that the two began a “relationship” when the girl was either 15 or 16, according to a police booking affidavit.

“(The girl) described Sisneros as dubious and said he sold her dreams. (She) stated Sisneros taught her how to commit identity fraud,” the affidavit states.

The girl told investigators that Sisneros later put photos of her on websites that “are used for purposes of engaging in commercial sexual activity,” according to the affidavit. “(She) stated that Sisneros broke her down mentally and she did not feel attractive.”

The teen told investigators that Sisneros would post compromising videos and pictures of her on those websites, the affidavit states.

“(The girl) disclosed to investigators that the relationship with Sisneros became toxic and violent,” according to the affidavit.

In addition to being physically assaulted, the girl told police that “Sisneros was controlling and did not allow her to talk to other people. (She) stated that Sisneros controlled her access to her cellphone and passwords to her accounts. (She) stated Sisneros once locked her in a closet for several hours while he looked through her phone. (The girl) stated any money she earned she was required to give half of it to Sisneros,” the affidavit states.

“(The girl) told investigators that Sisneros wanted her to engage in sexual activity in exchange for drugs or information to help them commit identity fraud,” the affidavit continued.

On another occasion, the girl was told by Sisneros that she was expected to have sex with a drug dealer in exchange for meth, the affidavit states. This happened with multiple people, police stated. On another occasion, he “instructed her to have sex with someone in exchange for information to help them run a profile, which (the girl) explained was committing identity fraud. (The girl) stated Sisneros wanted her to do this in exchange for rent money,” according to the affidavit.

“(The girl) further clarified that did not feel like she could make decisions for herself and Sisneros,” the affidavit continues.

Police have requested that Sisneros be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without bail pending the filing of formal charges, noting that he has attempted to contact the girl as recently as August.×

Pat Reavy is a longtime police and courts reporter. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021 after many years of reporting for the Deseret News.