PHOENIX, AZ—Kenneth Wayne Becketts, Jr., 32, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 96 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Becketts was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

As part of the plea agreement, Becketts admitted to recruiting the underage victim to work as a prostitute, and posting advertisements on various websites in December of 2011.

U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo stated, “We will not tolerate those who sexually exploit young women for financial gain. This substantial prison sentence indicates to all that such acts of victimization will be vigorously prosecuted.”

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Rachel R. Stoddard, and Krissa Lanham, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.