Three Men Sentenced for Their Role in
Multi-State Prostitution and Money Laundering Ring

Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today the most recent sentencings involving several individuals who were charged in a wide-ranging, interstate prostitution and money laundering ring that victimized numerous women and juvenile girls.

Terrence Williams, a/k/a “Sleazy T,” age 46, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced Monday by United States District Court Chief Judge Yvette Kane to a 45 years’ imprisonment; a $2,400 fine; and a lifetime of supervised release.

Eric Hayes, a/k/a “International Ross” and “Ross,” age 39, of Toledo, Ohio, was also sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Yvette Kane on Friday to 35 years’ imprisonment; a $4,000 fine; and three years of supervised release.

During the trial of Hayes and Williams, a 16-year-old victim testified that Hayes beat her with a tire iron for wanting to leave him. Another juvenile victim testified that Williams beat her with the metal tip of a belt until it tore her flesh.

Additionally, a former Pennsylvania State Police trooper Kevin J. Coleman, Sr., age 42, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on November 21, 2008, by United States Chief Judge Yvette Kane to 97 months’ imprisonment; a $1,000 fine; and two years of supervised release for obstructing and impeding the due administration of justice while serving in the Pennsylvania State Police.

According to Carlson:“These initial sentences, which total more than 88 years of imprisonment for these pimps and those who would protect them send a simple, yet profound and powerful message: The commercial sexual exploitation of women and children will not be tolerated, and those who seek to turn the pain of these children into their profit will face the most severe sanctions that the law permits.”

In December 2005, the United States Attorney’s Office announced that charges of interstate prostitution and money laundering against 16 individuals. The individuals charged and their current status are:

Franklin Robinson, a/k/a “Michael Tucker,” “Silk” and “Silky Red” - Pleaded guilty; sentencing scheduled for 1/6/09;

Derek Maes, a/k/a “Prince” - Sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment;

Derick Price, a/k/a “Coleone” and “Toone” - Pleaded guilty;
sentencing scheduled for 12/22/08;

Dawan Oliver, a/k/a “Thug” and “Finesse” - Pleaded guilty;
sentencing scheduled for 12/22/08;

Kenneth Britton, a/k/a “KB” and “Kalgon” - Pleaded guilty; sentencing scheduled for 12/19/08;

Shimon Maxwell, a/k/a “Smooth” - Pleaded guilty; sentencing scheduled for 12/15/08;

Eric Pennington, a/k/a “ Escalade” - sentenced to time served.

Kory Barham, a/k/a “Cutty Blue” and “Cuttlas Y. Blue” - Pleaded guilty; sentencing scheduled for 12/19/08;

Robert Scott, Sr., a/k/a “Big Rob” - Pleaded guilty; sentencing scheduled for 12/29/08;

Robert Scott II, a/k/a “Lil’ Rob” and “Clever” - Pleaded guilty; sentencing scheduled for 12/23/08.

David Powers - Pleaded guilty; sentenced to time served;

Atlas Aquarius, a/k/a “Large” - Pleaded guilty; sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment;

Melissa Jacobs, a/k/a “Storm” - Plead guilty; sentenced to time served; and

Tana Adkins, a/k/a “Sapphire” - Pleaded guilty; sentenced to time served.

All were charged with conspiracy to coerce and transport individuals interstate for the purpose of prostitution. The Indictment alleged that more than 100 separate overt acts were done in furtherance of the conspiracy, including that:

--the defendants used juveniles and adults for prostitution activity in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area; and
--that they coordinated this activity by setting prices for sexual services at the Gables of Harrisburg truck stop in West Hanover Township, PA, and wiring money to co-conspirators in other states.

The conspiracy charged the extensive interstate travel and transportation of women and girls for prostitution. According to the Indictment, the conspirators openly discussed their illegal activities with one conspirator allegedly bragging to another conspirator, “I love pimping.” The Indictment also charged that the defendants used violence and intimidation to recruit and control the women and girls being prostituted by them or their co-conspirators, reciting that one individual defendant described beating prostitutes so brutally that “both my hands were swelled up.”

The Indictment then charged individual defendants in 26 substantive counts with operating an interstate prostitution network; transporting women and girls interstate for prostitution; and enticing, coercing and persuading minors to engage in prostitution. According to the Indictment, numerous women and girls were prostituted by the co-defendants. At least nine of these women were minors under the age of 18 when they were enticed, persuaded or coerced into lives of prostitution. The Indictment noted that the youngest of these girls was only 12 years’ old when she was prostituted by the defendants.

The Indictment also charged four money laundering conspiracies. Various defendants were charged with using interstate wire transfers to distribute and conceal the proceeds of the prostitution activity. The Indictment alleged numerous instances of wire transfers through Western Union to and from defendants and co-conspirators with the use of false names. The money laundering charges in the Indictment allege that proceeds of prostitution totaling almost $310,000 were transferred among certain defendants.

According to U.S. Attorney Carlson, the Harrisburg investigation began as a result of a similar FBI investigation in Oklahoma City that revealed significant interstate prostitution of minors occurring in Harrisburg and the surrounding area.

The investigation revealed that the defendants operated an organized prostitution enterprise in several states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, the District of Columbia, California, Florida, Nevada, Texas, and Louisiana. Investigators found that this prostitution enterprise had been operating in the Harrisburg area since before 2001, Carlson stated.

U.S. Attorney Carlson praised the many law enforcement partners whose efforts led to the Indictment. In addition to the FBI Philadelphia Division and Harrisburg Resident Agency, Carlson thanked the FBI offices in Pensacola, Florida, and Toledo, Ohio; the Marion County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Department; the Dauphin County, Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Office; the Swatara Township, Pennsylvania, and Steelton, Pennsylvania police departments; and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for Northern District of Florida and the Northern District of Ohio, all of whom provided invaluable support in the Harrisburg investigation.

This case was prosecuted in Harrisburg by Assistant United States Attorneys Gordon A.D. Zubrod, Daryl F. Bloom, and James T. Clancy.

 

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