GALVESTON, TX—Federal charges have been filed against four Galveston residents alleging they were involved in the sex trafficking of children, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Charles Devan Fulton Sr., 39, Charmell Latonya Potts, 31, Dominique Warner, 23, and Lawrence James Julian, 22, were in Galveston federal court today. They will remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

According to the allegations in the indictment, between June 1, 2014, through April 1, 2015, in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas and elsewhere, the four individuals engaged in conspiracy to recruit, entice and harbor minors to engage in sex trafficking. Fulton aka “Black” or “Blacc,” Warner aka “Meathead,” Julian aka “Wolf” and Potts allegedly posted pictures and prostitution ads of the minor victims on websites. The charges further allege that Warner and Julian would transport the victims to their prostitution dates. Afterwards, Warner and Julian would allegedly transport the victims back to Fulton and Potts, who would keep all of the money the minors earned.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, each defendant faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment, while the sex trafficking charges carry a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and Galveston Police Department with the assistance of the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri Zack and Julie Searle are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”