An Aurora man convicted of forcing a 16-year-old girl into prostitution was sentenced to 34 years in prison by a Jefferson County judge last week.

Victor Everitt Sanders was given the 34-year prison term, along with five years on parole, and required to register as a sex offender after being convicted in July of multiple felonies.

According to prosecutors, a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in January 2011 led investigators to Sanders and his 16-year-old victim, who was being advertised on a website.

Members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, including members of the Aurora Police Department, and Lakewood Police became involved in the investigation, eventually taking the 16-year-old into custody.

The teen told investigators that Sanders was her pimp.

He had forced her to post ads, then go with strangers and commit sex acts, then bring the money back to him.

The investigation indicated that Sanders controlled the food and types of clothing that the 16-year-old could have.

He used verbal, physical and sexual abuse to maintain his control.

The Jeffco District Attorney’s office reports that the young woman attended the sentencing hearing.

She testified that with Sanders behind bars, she had resumed her life, had graduated high school and will be attending a four-year college in September.

“This sentence should send a clear message to those who victimize our nation’s children. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and our communities will come together to protect our young people and hold accountable those who exploit the innocence of young victims,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge James Yacone said in a statement.

I-70 Sexy sentencing

Another man, Roy Manuel Ibarra-Gonzales, 20, was also sentenced for underage prostitution last week in a Jeffco courtroom.

Ibarra-Gonzales was part of an unrelated prostitution ring, nicknamed I-70 Sexy by investigators.

The sex-and-drug trafficking ring involved five underage girls, who were transported across the state for sex acts with multiple clients.

The Colorado State Attorney General’s office filed an indictment against 14 individuals involved with the prostitution ring. Ibarra-Gonzales was identified as one of the ringleaders.

He was charged with multiple counts of pimping and trafficking of a child, and was also one of the first members of the group to take a plea deal with prosecutors.

“I know what I did was wrong. I’m sorry for what I did and I’m ready to take full responsibility,” Ibarra-Gonzales told the court before sentencing.

In exchange for his agreement to give evidence against his co-defendants, Ibarra-Gonzales avoided additional incarceration, having already spent more than 290 days in county jail.

Judge Tamara Russell sentenced Ibarra-Gonzales to four years on probation, ordered him to register as a sex offender and to have no contact with his victims.