Houston Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking of Minors

HOUSTON—Tevon Harris, aka “Da Kidd” and “King Kidd,” 21, of Houston, has been ordered detained pending trial on charges related to the trafficking of minors for commercial sex, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Scott made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Francis Stacy. The indictment was returned March 20, 2013, and he was subsequently arrested March 26 by members of the Houston FBI Innocence Lost Task Force. Harris is charged with two counts of trafficking of a children under 18 for commercial sex while knowing they were underage and using force, fraud, or coercion to cause them to engage in a commercial sex act. The crimes allegedly occurred in January and July 2012.

An investigation by the Houston FBI Innocence Lost Task Force, which includes such agencies as the Houston Police Department, developed this case using statements from victims as well as online advertisements for the victims’ services and hotel records from several hotels.

At the detention hearing today, information was presented that in order to gain the trust of victims, whom he allegedly met on social networking sites, Harris would tell them he was going to help them become models. He would allegedly pick them up, take them to motel rooms, and force them to have sex with him. The allegations further indicate he would also deprive them of their cell phones, thereby cutting off their communication with the outside world. In court, it was also presented that he would use violence to keep the minors cooperating with him. In one instance, he allegedly deprived a victim of food for more than four days because he did not believe she was servicing his clients well enough, according to allegations. He allegedly also supplied her with marijuana and alcohol. It is also alleged that the victims were photographed and their images were posted in online ads for prostitution. All money they earned were kept by Harris, according to the information presented in court. One of the victims was allegedly beaten with a towel rack torn from a motel room wall when Harris found her using the phone to call her mother for help.

Harris was ordered detained pending trial, currently set before United States District Judge Sim Lake on June 4, 2013.

Harris faces up to life imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Harris also faces a maximum of lifetime term of supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri L. Zack of the Southern District of Texas.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.