San Diego, California - Jonathan Madison of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court Monday morning to sex trafficking of children, admitting that he knowingly recruited, advertised, and solicited teenage girls and women to engage in commercial sex acts. Madison also admitted that he videotaped himself having sexual intercourse with an underage girl and later transmitted the video to her by cell phone.
In his plea, Madison acknowledged that he transported girls and women and provided them to customers for commercial sex acts, which took place in California and Colorado from November 2017 through April 2020.
Madison, aka “Jay Jay,” “Boobutt,” and “JT,” was arrested in April 2020 on sex trafficking charges and ordered detained without bond by the Court. A federal grand jury returned the first post-pandemic indictment in May 2020 against Madison charging him with sex trafficking of a minor. Today, Madison entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard.
According to his plea agreement, between November 2017 and September 2018, while in the Southern District of California, Madison admitted he transported, provided, maintained and obtained a minor female (while she was 15 and 16 years old) for the purpose of her to engage in commercial sex acts in San Diego County. At this time, Madison knew the girl was under the age of 18.
Madison also admitted that in order to further his pimping activities, he caused online ads to be posted offering the girl for commercial sex. During this time, Madison transported her to meet with sex trafficking customers.
“This is a crime that affects young victims for the rest of their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “Our office will continue its collaborative work with our law enforcement partners to combat the abuse and exploitation of women and girls who are victims of sex trafficking.” Brewer praised prosecutor Joseph Orabona and members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force for their excellent work on this case.
“There’s no place for human trafficking in California or anywhere,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “When our children are put at risk, we stand united to fight back. I applaud the efforts of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for securing this conviction. At the California Department of Justice, we’ll continue to leverage our resources to stand up for the most vulnerable among us.”
“Today’s conviction is one more step in the journey to justice for the victims in this case,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner. “As law enforcement, we work tirelessly to stop criminals from preying on children and vulnerable victims in sex trafficking cases. The dedication and selfless devotion of FBI Agents protecting those most vulnerable in our communities has been and always will be unwavering and undeniable.”
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 3, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A. Bashant. Madison has been in custody since his arrest in April 2020.
DEFENDANT Case Numbers: 20CR1228-BAS
Jonathan Madison Age: 29 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591
Maximum Penalties: Ten-year mandatory minimum and a maximum of life in prison; mandatory Sex Offender Registration; a maximum term of supervised release of life; mandatory restitution to the victims.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, which consists of:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- California Department of Justice
- California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation – Parole
- California Highway Patrol
- ICE/Homeland Security Investigations
- National City Police Department
- San Diego City Attorney’s Office
- San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
- San Diego County Probation Department
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
- San Diego Police Department
- The United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California