OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—Today, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging MICHAEL DEAN BILLINGS, 59, an attorney from Oklahoma City, with conspiracy involving travel from Oklahoma City to Iquitos, Peru to engage in illicit sex with children, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

According to the three-count indictment, for over a decade beginning on February 2, 2003, and continuing through September 2013, Billings and others conspired to commit sex trafficking of children by recruiting and obtaining children in Peru to engage in commercial sex acts and further conspired to travel from Oklahoma City to Iquitos, Peru, to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children under 18 years of age. Specifically, the indictment includes three counts: Count 1 alleges conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children, Count 2 alleges conspiracy to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and Count 3 alleges conspiracy to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. Reference is made to the indictment and court record for further information.

Billings was arrested earlier today at his law office and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell in Oklahoma City. He was ordered to be held without bond pending a final detention hearing will be held on Monday, October 27th at 4:00 p.m. before Judge Mitchell.

If convicted, Billings faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and registration as a sex offender for life. The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Don Gifford, II, and David Petermann.