May 7, 2015

South Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Prostituting Minor

NORFOLK, VA—Doriean Barberi, 37, of Greenville, South Carolina, pleaded guilty today to charges of transporting a minor across state lines for prostitution purposes.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Norfolk Field Office; and James A. (Jim) Cervera, Chief of Police, Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr.

Barberi was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 3, 2014. Barberi faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when she is sentenced on October 22, 2015. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Barberi was first identified by the Virginia Beach Police Department in September 2014. Barberi had posted advertisements on www.backpage.com [external link]for herself and a 17 year old minor offering their sexual services at a local hotel. Upon being interviewed, Barberi and the minor confirmed that they drove into Virginia several days earlier and first worked in Suffolk. Then, they moved to Virginia Beach. Barberi set up the appointments for the minor and the minor gave Barberi all of the money she was paid for having sex with customers.

This case was investigated by FBI and Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.