Home Atlanta Press Releases 2010 Louisiana Man Admits to Transporting a Minor from Alabama to Georgia for Prostitution
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Louisiana Man Admits to Transporting a Minor from Alabama to Georgia for Prostitution
Dmarcus Antwain Ward Pleads Guilty to Violating the Mann Act

U.S. Attorney’s Office September 01, 2010
  • Northern District of Georgia (404) 581-6000

ATLANTA—DMARCUS ANTWAIN WARD, 25, of Minden, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today in federal district court to transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that the person engage in prostitution.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “Mr. Ward preyed on these young girls and caused them to engage in prostitution. The entry of this guilty plea is a step forward in vindicating these victims for the degrading acts he caused them to perform. I urge any young man or woman who is a victim of this kind of abuse to come forward and seek the protection that the law provides from those who exploit minors in this way.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said: “The FBI continues to work with its law enforcement and community based partners not only to apprehend those individuals responsible for exploiting minor children into prostitution, but also to provide the victims with resources and options. Child prostitution is something that cannot be ignored and, as such, anyone with information regarding this activity should report that activity immediately.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: WARD met the two minors in Georgia, and transported the victims to Alabama in October and early November 2009, where he caused them to engage in prostitution in Homewood, Alabama. Ward then transported one of the minors back to Georgia and caused her to engage in prostitution in hotels in Marietta and Tucker, Georgia. Both victims were runaways, under the age of 18, and WARD knew they were minors. WARD placed them in prostitution by posting advertisements for sexual services on the Internet. The victims were required to give their money to WARD.

WARD was indicted in February 2010 on two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and two counts of transportation for prostitution. Today he pleaded guilty to one count of transportation for prostitution. He could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 30, 2010, at 9:30 a.m., before United States District Judge William S. Duffey, Jr.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes the Atlanta Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, City of Marietta Police Department, and Sandy Springs Police Department, and additional assistance from the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana.

Anyone with information about human trafficking is encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 404-679-9000.

Assistant United States Attorney Susan Coppedge is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or John Horn, First Assistant United States Attorney, at (404) 581-6335. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

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