Sex Trafficker Sentenced To 20 Years In Federal Prison For Interstate Prostitution

Tampa, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday yesterday sentenced Gary Paul Moorman (35, Cincinnati, Ohio) to 20 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum penalty, for inducement to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity. He pleaded guilty on July 21, 2017. 

According to court documents, Moorman systematically and violently abused multiple victims and induced them, against their wills, to travel between Florida, Ohio, and elsewhere to engage in criminal sexual activity. Specifically, he induced the victims to commit acts of prostitution for his own financial gain. In furtherance of his criminal activity, Moorman took provocative photos of the victims and posted prostitution advertisements on the Internet. After the victims were forced to provide the sex acts, Moorman demanded and took all of the proceeds for himself. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Tampa Division (Pinellas Resident Agency), with support from St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office and the Cincinnati Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie B. Harris and Kristen A. Fiore.