Sioux Falls Man Guilty of Sex Trafficking

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Tajahn Clinton, age 35, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on May 15, 2013, and, pursuant to a plea agreement, pled guilty to count two of the fourth superseding indictment that charged Clinton with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life. In the plea agreement, the United States and Clinton agreed to a specific sentence of 402 months. The court has deferred acceptance of the plea agreement pending the results of the presentence report.

“Those who traffic South Dakota children and young women will find no refuge from law enforcement. We are behind every corner and we will aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who tries to profit off the sexual exploitation of our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Johnson.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Koliner and Jeffrey Clapper.

Sentencing has been scheduled for August 12, 2013. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.