LOUISVILLE, KY—A Jefferson County, Kentucky, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell to 51 months in prison for transporting adult females, with the intent that they engage in prostitution, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.

Dwayne Watkins, age 37, transported at least six females from Kentucky to other states to engage in prostitution between 2007 to August 2014. Five of the six females were often psychologically abused and physically assaulted as a means to coerce them. Watkins used various Internet websites such Craigslist, Eros, and Backpage to advertise prostitutes working for his prostitution business and facilitate communication with potential clients.

Watkins transported the females, (at least one of the victims was homeless), from Kentucky to Indiana, North Carolina, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Ohio, to engage in prostitution.

Further, Watkins told one of the victims that he would be her modeling “Agent”. However, at the direction of Watkins, the female victim became a working prostitute and was forced to give Watkins every dollar made from prostitution.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Metro Police Department, and Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office.