Three from Lima sentenced to prison for sex trafficking of a 14-year-old

Three people from Lima were sentenced to prison this week for their roles in a sex trafficking conspiracy involving a 14-year-old girl, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and Lima Police Chief Kevin Martin.

Randy Thompson, 26, was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison. Shemeric Cook, 30, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Precious Russell, 20, was sentenced to nine years in prison.

All three defendants frequented the 4^th Street apartment complex in Lima and played a role in the sex trafficking of a 14-year old girl from that location in November 2015, according to court documents and testimony.

Thompson forced the victim to engage in commercial sex acts from his apartment, from a nearby gas station and caused the victim to be transported to Fort Wayne, Indiana where she was prostituted as well. He also lied to investigators during the case.

Thompson pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor, one count of transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in prostitution, two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation.

Cook pled guilty to obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation for his role in lying to investigators, attempting to distance himself from the crimes and trying to protect others who were involved in the sex trafficking of the victim.

Russell pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor and one count of sex trafficking of a minor. She assisted Thompson in his prostitution of the victim out of the 4^th Street apartment complex, including creating on-line advertisements offering the sexual services of the minor, according to court documents and testimony.

Megan Hitt and Jacqueline Young are scheduled to be sentenced on June 27^th for their roles in the conspiracy. Lorenzo Young and Aundre Davis, who were convicted at trial this year, are scheduled to be sentenced on September 7^th.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alissa M. Sterling and Daniel Hurley following an investigation by the Lima Police Department, the FBI and the Northwest Ohio Crimes Against Children Task Force.