Man sentenced for smuggling teen girls from Mexico for forced prostitution

SAN DIEGO - A man who had two teenage girls smuggled from Mexico to Vista to work as prostitutes in North County migrant camps was sentenced today to more than 24 years in federal prison.

Adrian Zitlalpopoca-Hernandez, 33, was convicted in January of 10 counts, including sex trafficking by force and harboring illegal aliens.

Zitlalpopoca's case ranks possibly in the top five of ''serious'' and ''callous'' criminal behavior that U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez said he's seen in his 13 years on the bench.

Benitez told the defendant that he preyed upon the emotions of the 17- and 18-year-old il...