09/30/2009

News / U.S. Army private and 3 other men indicted on sex trafficking and drug charges

Allegedly recruited 16 year old girl to travel from Ohio to Maryland for prostitution

BALTIMORE, Md., -A federal grand jury has indicted a Millersville, Md., man and three conspirators from Ohio on charges of running a sex trafficking business from an apartment in Millersville, announced U. S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. The indictment was returned on Sept. 24, 2009, and unsealed today upon the arrest of the defendants. The indictment calls for the forfeiture of all property used in the commission of the crimes, including financial proceeds and a 2006 Chrysler 300 registered in Ohio.

"This case demonstrates the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force's policy of zero tolerance for child prostitution," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. "Anyone who profits from sex with children should be on notice that law enforcement agents and prosecutors are standing by to send them to federal prison. Our goal is to prosecute the perpetrators and seize all profits generated by the criminal activity."

"Protecting our communities from the threats and vulnerabilities posed by criminal organizations engaged in human trafficking is a top priority for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)," said William Winter, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Baltimore. "As a member of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, ICE is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate human trafficking, as well as working with our local non-governmental, community-based and faith-based organizations to identify, rescue and assist victims of trafficking."

According to the indictment, Craig Allen Corey II, 23, a resident at Fort George G. Meade Army installation in Anne Arundel County, is a private first class with the U.S. Army. From January to April 2009, the indictment alleges that Corey conspired with Ohio residents Robert Harris, 21, Richard Johnson, 22, and Jacob Tyler, 22, to operate a prostitution business at Corey's former Millersville apartment. The defendants are alleged to have used online classified ads and social networking websites to recruit females for prostitution and to advertise sexual services. They allegedly arranged for the travel of females, including a 16-year-old girl, from Ohio to Maryland to engage in prostitution. The defendants allegedly shared the cash proceeds of the prostitution and used the profits to purchase illegal drugs including ecstasy, which they then distributed to associates, prostitutes and customers.

Tyler is also alleged to have used a gun in a threatening manner against a sex customer and Harris allegedly assaulted an 18-year-old female who had been brought from Ohio to Maryland to work as a prostitute.

All of the defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the prostitution conspiracy, 10 years in prison for transportation for prostitution, 20 years in prison for enticement and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute ecstasy and BZP. Corey, Harris and Johnson also face a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking by force. Corey also faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor, 20 years in prison for distribution of child pornography and 20 years in prison for distribution of BZP. Corey is scheduled to have his initial appearance in federal court in Baltimore today at 2:00 p.m. Harris, Johnson and Tyler will have their initial appearances in federal court in Columbus, Ohio, before their removal to Maryland.

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0909/090929baltimore.htm

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