Mother who sex trafficked own daughter and boyfriend get maximum sentences in Fond du Lac County Court

Thursday, August 21, 2025, District Attorney Eric J. Toney announced that Judge Laura Lavey sentenced Elia Antonio to the maximum sentence of 34 years of initial prison confinement and 20 years of extended supervision for Human Trafficking, Failure to Protect a Child, and Bail Jumping. Judge Lavey sentenced Juan Rocha Mejia to the maximum sentence of 40 years of initial confinement and 20 years of extended supervision for the sexual assault directly related to the human trafficking of his girlfriend’s 12 year old child.

District Attorney Toney stated “Elia Antonio failed as a mother and has forfeited the title of mom by trafficking her own child for sex. Rocha Mejia committed a horrific assault from a position of trust in paying $250 to rape a child. Both defendants were illegally in the United Stated, with Rocha Mejia entering the United States in 2021. Judge Lavey made it clear that children are not for sale and that if the mother had a half the bravery of the survivor this would never have happened.”

If you are experiencing Human Trafficking or known someone that may be help is available at the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888, by email: help@humantraffickinghotline.org, and https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en.”

During the Antonio’s sentencing Judge Lavey stated that “The gift of motherhood is the greatest gift in all of human existence…With that comes the greatest responsibility…caring for children, providing for children, supporting them, and protecting them. No doubt in court’s mind that you, Ms. Antonio failed in that responsibility in one of the most heinous ways possible. Not only did you fail to protect her. You actively participated in trafficking her.

During Rocha Mejia’s sentencing Judge Lavey stated “Indigency and lack of education is noted but they are not mitigating circumstances. You don’t need to go to school to learn of human decency and kindness. You don’t need to go to school to learn you don’t treat children as property or worse, you don’t treat children as vessels for your own sexual gratification. Not excused by any culture differences in one’s own upbringing. Children are not for sale.”

The sentencing stems from the May 12th 2024 incident when Rocha Mejia offered the money to then girlfriend Elia Antonio and brought her daughter out to a rural Oakfield area and tied her up in a van to have sex with her. The girl managed to break free and ran to a neighboring house to ask for help.