A Fresno man was sentenced Thursday to 62 years to life in state prison after being convicted of human trafficking, pimping, pandering, and multiple sexual offenses involving three minors, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office said.

Brandon Antonio Correia, 38, was sentenced by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Brian Alvarez. A jury convicted Correia on July 16 of all charges and found all alleged aggravating factors to be true.

Prosecutors said evidence presented at trial showed Correia trafficked a 14-year-old girl through force, fear, and violence and sexually assaulted her.

Correia also trafficked and pimped a 17-year-old girl who attended a local high school, according to the district attorney’s office. Prosecutors said Correia met the girl at a bus stop after school and took her to a motel where another 14-year-old girl was staying.

Correia then directed both girls to engage in prostitution, monitored them while they worked, arranged meetings with customers, and collected the money they earned, prosecutors said.

Correia Approaches Another Victim at Bus Stop

In another incident, Correia approached a third victim near her high school bus stop when she was 17 and attempted to recruit her to work as a prostitute, according to prosecutors.

After she refused, Correia engaged in sexual acts with her, prosecutors said. The victim also reported that Correia physically restrained and assaulted her when she attempted to leave.

Investigators recovered digital evidence documenting Correia’s involvement in the prostitution of the minors, according to the district attorney’s office.

Detectives found hundreds of calls and messages between Correia and the victims, including communications in which he arranged prostitution meetings, discussed prices, told the victims where to meet customers, monitored their activities, and demanded the money they earned, prosecutors said.

Many of the messages also contained threats of violence against the 14-year-old victim, according to the district attorney’s office.

Correia had previous convictions and prison commitments for carjacking with the use of a firearm, evading police in a vehicle, hit-and-run, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, prosecutors said.

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