On Jan. 23, District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced a woman charged with human trafficking and rape of a child was convicted by a jury of all charges. Julie Acosta, 42, of Catasauqua, was convicted of all charges after a three-day trial before Judge Robert L. Steinberg.

Acosta was charged with conspiracy rape of a child, trafficking in individuals to recruit/entice/solicit, sexual exploitation of children, simple assault and intimidation of a witness.

Acosta’s bail was revoked, and she remains in Lehigh County Jail.

Her sentencing is set for 9 a.m. April 14. She faces a maximum sentence of 46 to 92 years in state prison and will be required to register as a sexual offender for the rest of her life.

At the time of the child rape investigation in 2024, the victim was 12 years old.

Also charged in the case is Joshua Martel, 32, of Allentown, who pleaded guilty to rape of a child and trafficking in individuals as well as a statutory sex assault case involving a second victim. In both of those cases, Martel was sentenced to serve 21 to 50 years in state prison.

Sometime between April 23-24, 2024, the victim, who was 12 at the time, told investigators Acosta had taken her and her siblings to a hotel along Airport Road, where they split a hotel room with Martel.

At the hotel room, Martel gave Acosta $100 and two bags of crystal methamphetamine before Acosta let Martel alone with the victim.

Martel sexually and physically assaulted the victim. During the rape, the victim said she tried to get away, but Martel would not allow her to leave.

After Acosta’s arrest in the child rape investigation, she was sent to Lehigh County Jail.

While in jail Feb. 9-June 6, 2025, Acosta both called and used her jail-issued tablet to communicate with the victim, despite being ordered by Lehigh County Children and Youth to not communicate with the victim.

Acosta also used another inmate’s tablet to contact the victim and asked the victim to tell authorities she lied about the child rape investigation and to not cooperate, so Acosta could be released from jail.

These cases were investigated by Allentown Police Detective Suzanne Toth and Lehigh County District Attorney Detective Steve Furlong and prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara A. Moyer and paralegal Rachel Bard.