An El Dorado Hills man was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly prostituting a teenage girl on Craigslist.
Rishi Sanwal, 23, allegedly used force, fraud and coercion to cause a 17-year-old girl to engage in prostitution, according to a news release by the office of U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott. He is being held without bail in Sacramento County Main Jail.
Sanwal was indicted on one count of sex trafficking of a minor, the release states.
Prosecutors said Sanwal gave the victim an alias of "Amy" and posted ads on the "erotic services" section of the Craigslist Web site. Sanwal allegedly took the girl from her El Dorado home to the Bay Area and then to Rocklin, where he posted the Craigslist advertisement. Sanwal and the girl then returned to the Bay Area, where the man allegedly posted additional listings advertising that the girl was available for sex, the release states.
If convicted, Sanwal could face 10 years to life in prison, a lifetime of supervised parole and a $250,000 fine.
Sanwal was arrested June 30 after an investigation by federal and local authorities looking for the 17-year-old, who was listed as missing. Investigators said she disappeared in March. After about six days, she called a friend, saying she was in the Bay Area.
Investigators traced the caller ID information to several online advertisements on Craigslist pages, and undercover officers arranged a meeting in Fremont and found the missing girl.
Call The Bee's Niesha Lofing, (916) 321-1270.
