November 26, 2014

Trio Charged with Sex Trafficking

Kevino Graham, 33, Brian Wright, 38, and Renato Teixeira, 24, of Philadelphia, PA were charged today by indictment with two counts of sex trafficking by force, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

According to court documents, between May 2009 and August 2013, the defendants ran a striptease club and brothel, which they called “Passionate Touch,” at a property they leased in the Cathedral Park section of Philadelphia. It is alleged that Graham ran the club while Wright collected the money and Teixeira helped to recruit females to work for the venture and posted prostitution advertisements for the females. It is further alleged that between on or about September 1, 2011, through on or about January 31, 2012, the defendants engaged in acts of force, threats, fraud and coercion to cause young women to engage in prostitution.

If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of life, a fine of up to $500,000, at least five years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department Special Victims’ Unit and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Morgan.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.