Elmer Baca Flores was convicted on Nov. 3 of 13 counts of human trafficking for labor, one count of lewd acts with a child under 16, two counts of lewd proposals to a child and one count of sexual battery. The sentence, handed down Friday, includes an order to register as a sex offender, and authorities said Flores will face deportation.

The case marks Oklahoma's first prison sentence for forced labor trafficking, according to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, which led the investigation.

Investigators said Flores used threats and his position as a pastor to control his victims, pressuring them to quit their jobs, move into the church and work for him without pay. He also threatened victims with fear tactics, claiming he had ties to the MS-13 gang, according to OBN spokesperson Mark Woodward.

"We were able to substantiate through interviews that this person was using fear to force these families to basically do whatever he wanted," Woodward said. "If they didn't do what he told them to do, that they would be hurt, so they felt their lives were going to be in danger."

Woodward said Flores also manipulated victims by framing sexual acts as tests of faith, spiritual strength and the ability to resist temptation.

"He made them believe his victims were following God's will, and that's how one incident led to a sexual battery charge," Woodward said. "That's how this person, and oftentimes predators, convince people."

The investigation began in March 2025 after victims shared allegations with a certified nonprofit service provider, who then contacted authorities. Flores was arrested in April 2025 on three counts of lewd acts with a child. The case later expanded to include human trafficking and sexual battery charges.

Woodward credited the victims for the outcome.

"The courage and bravery of these victims, and their willingness to share their stories, was key to securing Oklahoma's first prison sentence for forced labor trafficking," he said.

The case underscores the vulnerability of communities that place trust in religious leaders and the importance of nonprofit service providers in connecting victims to law enforcement. It also highlights a growing awareness among Oklahoma authorities of labor trafficking, a crime that often remains hidden because victims fear retaliation or deportation.

Flores, who has not yet been transferred to state custody, will begin serving his sentence while deportation proceedings move forward, authorities said.