HOUSTON—Five people have been sentenced for their respective roles in a sex trafficking of minors conspiracy in which young females were forced and/or coerced to engaged in commercial sex acts, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Emanuel Dandre Wade, 26, Charmaine Henderson, 27, Ashley Shawntel Williams, 22, and Darquesha Perry, 28, all pleaded guilty to varying offenses on March 23, 2015, while a fifth defendant—Denzell Parrish, 24, of Houston, entered his plea in August 2015.

Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller sentenced Wade, of Houston, to a total of 360 months in prison for his two convictions of sex trafficking of minors. The sentence will be immediately followed by 10 years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Miller noted that the sentence of 360 months reflected the seriousness of the crimes committed by Wade. Parrish was also sentenced today. He received 72 months in prison for his conviction of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.

The others have already been sentenced. Henderson, previously of Houston and now of Metarie, Louisiana, and Williams, of Houston, both entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Henderson also pleaded to one count of sex trafficking of minors. Henderson was previously sentenced to 48 months in federal prison, while Williams received a 60-month-term of imprisonment. Perry, of Houston, admitted to misprision of a felony and received eight months of home confinement.

Wade and Henderson claimed to own a modeling agency, which, in reality, was a front for prostitution. Wade admitted he coerced minor females to engage in prostitution under the initial guise of “modeling.” He took pictures of the minors and advertised their services on websites.

One of the girls was continually beaten by Wade and forced to continue to prostitute. She indicated that on one occasion, she was beaten for simply giving Wade the wrong number of cigarettes. She was eventually recovered by law enforcement.

After the victim’s rescue, Williams contacted her and lied to her, stating she was no longer associating with Wade and to come “hang out” with her. She then took her to a hotel room where Wade was waiting. The victim claimed Wade beat her again, but was eventually able to contact her mother who took her to a hospital to receive treatment.

Wade had also reached out to another victim via a social networking site under the guise of looking for a model. He eventually coerced her into prostitution and kept all of the monies she earned.

Williams admitted to transporting victims to “dates” in her vehicle and had rented motel rooms for the commercial sex acts. She knew the women were minors.

Perry had also provided transportation and allowed Wade to move into her apartment while running his criminal enterprise.

Parrish admitted to running Wade’s enterprise with Henderson for 17 days while Wade was incarcerated. He also knew the particular female recovered on Feb. 27, 2014, was a minor. Parrish was aware that Wade perpetrated acts of violence upon some of the victims caused to engage in commercial sex on his behalf.

Collectively, these individuals were responsible for 5 minors being caused to engage in commercial sex. The criminal enterprise lasted from May/June 2013 until Feb. 27, 2014, when Henderson was arrested and one of the minor victims was recovered.

Perry and Williams were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Wade, Parrish and Henderson will remain in custody.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Houston FBI Innocence Lost Task Force, which includes personnel from the FBI, Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack is prosecuting the case.