Waukegan, IL – A 52-year-old man will spend 22 years in prison after pleading guilty in a Lake County human trafficking case involving a 15-year-old victim.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Jose Puga entered guilty pleas Wednesday, July 22, to involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, a Class X felony, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony.
Puga was sentenced to 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. His prison term will be followed by 18 months of supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender after his release.
Authorities said investigators and prosecutors consulted extensively with the survivor before the plea agreement. The survivor also delivered a victim-impact statement during the sentencing hearing describing how the crimes affected her life.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart credited the survivor’s bravery and the cooperation between prosecutors, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said the case reflected the work of detectives and partner agencies to investigate trafficking, rescue victims and hold offenders accountable.
The investigation was conducted by the Lake County Special Investigations Group in collaboration with the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. Authorities said evidence and witness information connected Puga to crimes committed against the teenager in Wonder Lake.
Puga surrendered to the Lake County Jail in March 2025 after an arrest warrant was issued.
A second defendant, Sheila E. Johnston, was previously sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for her role in the case, authorities said.
