A Lehigh Acres man who plied children with drugs and alcohol to sexually exploit them has been sentenced to life in prison.

Jesus Francisco Santana Perez, 54, was sentenced Tuesday for two counts of human trafficking as a habitual felony offender.

He also was sentenced to 15 years in prison on each of three counts of lewd battery on a child and one count of use of a child in a sexual performance and 30 years in prison for delivery of a controlled substance to a Minor.

Perez was designated a sexual predator.

He was found guilty at trial in March in Lee County.

“Santana Perez provided children in Lehigh Acres with illegal drugs and alcohol and then sexually exploited them over a six-month period in 2019,” a release from the State Attorney’s Office states. “During the trial, the victims, their family members, and child trauma experts testified to the crimes committed. The State also presented documentary evidence sourced from social media to corroborate the allegations.”

The case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

“This case highlights the need for our continued focus on stopping human trafficking. Victims are being targeted right here in Southwest Florida and we must prosecute those who prey on people and sell them into a life of illicit drugs and sexual exploitation. My office will continue to prosecute and send these predators to prison where they belong,” said State Attorney Amira Fox.

Special Victims Unit Chief Francine Donnorummo and Assistant State Attorney Lindsay Scott-Garza prosecuted the case.

Source: Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit