Two men federally charged after allegedly sex trafficking 16-year-old runaway at Dallas hotel
05/31/2022 12:46 pm PDT
DALLAS (TCD) -- Two men have been federally charged after allegedly sex trafficking teenage girls, including a 16-year-old runaway.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, on Tuesday, May 23, 33-year-old LaDarius Smith and 22-year-old Ulises Garcia were indicted on two counts of sex trafficking a child.
The Attorney's Office says a 16-year-old runaway "had been spotted on megapersonals.eu, a known commercial sex database." A conversation was reportedly initiated on the site by an undercover agent who requested a commercial-sex date on April 12 at a Dallas hotel.
During the arranged meeting, the Attorney's Office says the agent found a 17-year-old girl who had locked herself out of the room. Garcia allegedly gave the 17-year-old victim a key to the room, and then she started talking to the undercover agent. Then the agent spoke with Smith, and Smith said he would bring the 16-year-old victim to the hotel soon, according to the Attorney's Office.
Surveillance video reportedly revealed Smith getting out of a dark blue BMW at the hotel with the 16-year-old victim along with another 17-year-old.
Agents eventually transported the teen victims to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center for comprehensive care, according to the Attorney's Office.
Smith and Garcia face up to life in federal prison if convicted.
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