Sanchez, a Mexican citizen, on Wednesday waived his right to a federal grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty to crossing state lines with a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Sanchez is expected to be sentenced June 22 to at least five years and as many as 30 in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall advised Sanchez that after he completes his prison term he will be deported.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James K. Filan Jr. told the judge that the teenager admitted having a sexual relationship with Sanchez.
On June 10, Filan said the pair left Norwalk and traveled to New York City, where they boarded a bus with the intention of going to California, where they would live with Sanchez's sister.
The girl's parents contacted authorities, who quickly learned from one of her friends that she had telephoned from New York.
Filan said FBI agents were able to trace telephone calls she made to a bus station in Indiana and learned the bus was headed to St. Louis. On June 14, agents stopped the bus, boarded it and arrested Sanchez, the prosecutor said.
