NORFOLK, VA—Dana O. Knight, 33, of Gates, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 240 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for transporting multiple women to Virginia for prostitution.

Knight pleaded guilty on July 15, 2015. Court documents reflect that, over the course of one year, Knight transported at least three women to Virginia and other locations for purposes of furthering his prostitution business. One victim was transported by Knight to locations in North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere before ultimately being brought to Virginia. Knight used various Internet resources to advertise the services of the women who worked for him. Knight was physically violent towards his victims and beat one woman so badly that she was hospitalized on multiple occasions. In November 2014, Knight was arrested in Virginia Beach after one of his victims called 911 seeking emergency assistance. Prior to his arrest on these charges, Knight had been involved in the prostitution business for nearly nine years, making approximately $20,000 per month.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and James A. Cervera, Virginia Beach Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Kathleen Dougherty and Elizabeth M. Yusi prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15cr26.