OMAHA, Neb. – Particular Agent in Cost of Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Kansas Metropolis Katherine Greer and United States Lawyer Steven Russell introduced that Omaha residents Carney Turner, 42, and Julisha Biggs, 20, had been sentenced Nov. 8, in federal court docket for a conspiracy to intercourse visitors minors, following an HSI and joint regulation enforcement companion investigation.
“Criminals like these sentenced in the present day, are extra involved with their very own greed than the horrific circumstances they search to reveal minors to,” mentioned Particular Agent in Cost of HSI Kansas Metropolis Katherine Greer. “This sentencing ought to ship a powerful message that HSI and our regulation enforcement companions are dedicated to searching for, dismantling and bringing to justice those that search to perpetrate intercourse trafficking and little one exploitation crimes towards minors.”
Chief Choose Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Turner to life imprisonment on one depend of conspiracy to intercourse visitors minors, three counts of intercourse trafficking of a minor, and two counts of enticement of a minor.
Chief Choose Rossiter sentenced Biggs to 87 months’ imprisonment for her function within the intercourse trafficking conspiracy. There isn’t a parole within the federal jail system. After her launch from jail, Biggs will serve 5 years of supervised launch and will likely be required to register as a intercourse offender.
Co-Defendant Sidney Marker is scheduled to be sentenced for her function within the conspiracy on Nov, 14, 2022, at 10 a.m.
Legislation enforcement started investigating in September 2020 after discovering digital messages between a minor feminine and Turner throughout a separate intercourse trafficking investigation. The minor feminine was interviewed and reported that she had been intercourse trafficked by Turner for about three months and that Turner had saved cash from the intercourse gross sales. In October 2020, a second minor feminine reported that she had been sexually assaulted by a person in a lodge room after Turner introduced her to the lodge and paid her to fulfill with the person. In November 2020, a 3rd minor feminine was reported lacking from her foster house and regulation enforcement noticed that she was being posted in on-line intercourse ads by a cellphone quantity related to Turner.
Proof uncovered by regulation enforcement confirmed that Turner, Marker, and Biggs resided collectively in an condominium in Ralston, Nebraska. Turner recruited, marketed, and organized business intercourse gross sales for minors between roughly January 2020 and February 2021. The intercourse gross sales passed off at lodges in and round Omaha, in addition to on the condominium, which had been leased by Marker. At the least one of many minors additionally stayed on the condominium for a time period. Marker supplied automobiles to move the minors to lodges for business intercourse acts and assisted with renting lodge rooms. The minor who had been reported lacking in November 2020 had been recruited by Biggs to come back work for Turner.
A spokesperson for the Omaha Police Division acknowledged that they’re happy to see such sturdy sentences towards intercourse trafficking. “It is very important ship the message that intercourse trafficking won’t be tolerated and the criminals who take part in it will likely be severely punished. The Omaha Police Division will proceed to work with their federal companions to rescue the survivors of trafficking and can tirelessly pursue their traffickers.”
Appearing U.S. Lawyer Russell added, “I respect the dedication and energy of Homeland Safety Investigations, the Omaha Police Division and my employees in working collectively on these tough and essential instances whereas bringing justice to those that prey and visitors upon susceptible kids.”
This case was introduced as a part of Venture Protected Childhood, a nationwide initiative to fight the rising epidemic of kid sexual exploitation and abuse launched in Could 2006 by the Division of Justice. Led by United States Lawyer’s Workplaces and the Prison Division’s Little one Exploitation and Obscenity Part (CEOS), Venture Protected Childhood marshals federal, state and native assets to higher find, apprehend and prosecute people who exploit kids by way of the Web, in addition to to establish and rescue victims. For extra details about Venture Protected Childhood, please go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Safety Investigations, the Omaha Police Division, and the Nebraska Lawyer Basic’s Workplace.
Homeland Safety Investigations
HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), chargeable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these legal organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by means of which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 staff consists of greater than 6,800 particular brokers assigned to 225 cities all through the US, and 93 abroad places in 56 international locations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative regulation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. regulation enforcement.
Study extra concerning the HSI mission to fight little one exploitation, on Twitter @HSIKansasCity.