A Phoenix man, Jason Vangundy, has been arrested by the Mesa Police Department Human Exploitation and Trafficking Squad for prostituting underage girls out of valley hotels.
According to the Mesa Police Department, Vangundy, age 37, met the girls through online apps. One victim told police that Vangundy had the four runaway girls living in his Phoenix apartment and bought them cell phones so they could arrange sexual encounters with unknown men for money. A second girl told police she felt compelled to perform sexual acts for money, at the request of Vangundy, because he provided her with food, shelter, and a cell phone.
Police say two other victims are still outstanding. The victims were 16 and 17-years-old.
Once arrested, Vangundy admitted housing two of the girls, buying them cell phones, paying for hotel rooms, and receiving money from one girl. He denied involvement in anything related to prostitution. Vangundy was booked for the following charges and received a $250,000.00 bond:
ARS 13-3212A1 Child Sex Trafficking, a class 2 felony;
ARS 13-3212A7 Child Sex Trafficking Transportation, a class 2 felony;
ARS 13-2312C Illegal Control of an Enterprise with Minors, a class 2 felony; and
ARS 13-2317B1 Money Laundering, 2nd Degree, a class 3 felony