Home Minneapolis Press Releases 2010 South Dakota Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking Charge
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South Dakota Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking Charge

U.S. Attorney’s Office November 18, 2010
  • District of South Dakota (605) 330-4400

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Megan Marie Hayes, age 31, of Tea, South Dakota, appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on November 18, 2010, and pled guilty to an information that charged her with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child. The maximum penalty upon conviction under that statute is life in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, and a mandatory period of supervised release from five years up to life. The plea agreement calls for a sentence of no more than 60 months in prison and is subject to the court’s approval.

Hayes conspired with Brandon Quincy Thompson to harbor, transport, provide, and maintain a child victim, knowing or recklessly disregarding that the child victim had not attained the age of 18 and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. In plea documents, Hayes admitted that she registered and paid for a hotel room intending that the child victim would be using the room to engage in a commercial sex act. Brandon Quincy Thompson pled guilty to sex trafficking of a child by force, fraud, or coercion, and solicitation to murder a federal witness on November 16, 2010.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tea Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Koliner.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for February 25, 2011. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.

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