Jury finds man guilty on 60 felony counts connected to human trafficking

A Hemet man who posed as a woman on Facebook and solicited women and teenage girls to engage in sex acts for money, including two Shadow Hills High School students who went to authorities, is facing a potential life prison term, prosecutors said after Monday’s guilty verdict was read.

Eliberto Cruz Jacobo, who is scheduled to be sentenced May 5, was convicted of 60 felony counts, including human trafficking of a minor, inducing or persuading a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, statutory rape and possession of child pornography, involving seven underage victims.

Prosecutors said Jacobo, 46, posed as “Marlissa Garcia” on Facebook and engaged in conversations with numerous women and teenage girls ranging in age from 14 to 31, suggesting they could make money as escorts.

According to Deputy District Attorney Samantha Paixao, “Marlissa Garcia” would continue to recommend that the victims pursue prostitution, even if they said they were minors.

“There was no miscommunication between ‘Marlissa Garcia’ and the girls in regards to what they would be doing to make money,” Paixao told the jury. “(Jacobo) actively tried to recruit young minors to engage in prostitution.”

Prosecutors said some of the victims did end up engaging in prostitution with a client known as “Robert,” later identified as Jacobo. Sheriff’s deputies tracked the messages from “Marlissa Garcia” to an IP address at the defendant’s home, where deputies found photos and videos on his computer of minors engaged in sex acts with Jacobo.

Some of the juveniles also pointed “Robert” out to detectives when shown a photographic lineup of suspects, according to the prosecution.

“As everyday as evidence was given to us whether it was pictures or video it just became more and more horrific,” Jimmie Leckliter told KESQ and CBS Local 2 reporter Joe Galli.

According to the prosecutor’s trial brief, “Marlissa Garcia” was first brought to the attention of law enforcement in November 2014 by two students at Indio’s Shadow Hills High School following a school presentation on human trafficking. The girls told deputies that “Marlissa Garcia” had worked to recruit them on Facebook for prostitution.

Read KESQ and CBS Local 2’s story about the students tipping off police

Jacobo was taken into custody in early 2015.

All of Jacobo’s victims were from Riverside County and San Bernardino County. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5 and faces life in prison.

KESQ and CBS Local 2 will have more details from court Tuesday night.

JOE GALLI IS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

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