Two Arraigned on Sex Trafficking and Interstate Prostitution Charges

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA—On June 16, 2010, Merrideth Crane Horton, a/k/a Mary Crane Horton, age 32, and Katherine Heredia, age 22, both of Omaha, Nebraska, made their initial appearance and were arraigned in United States District Court in Council Bluffs on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. The two are charged along with Ramon D. Heredia, age 21, of Omaha, Nebraska, in a nine count indictment returned in the Southern District of Iowa.

“Sex trafficking is human trafficking. It is a serious crime, especially when it is alleged to involve minors, and it will be pursued and prosecuted here in Iowa,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Klinefeldt.

The United States Attorney also reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation that the defendants have engaged in criminal activity. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Counts of the Indictment and the respective potential penalty for each are:

• Count 1: Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 1594(c) and 1591, which carries a statutory penalty of imprisonment for any term of years or life, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, both such fine and imprisonment, a term of supervised release following any imprisonment, and a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victims Fund.
• Count 2: Engaging and Attempting to Engage in Sex Trafficking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) and 1594(a), which carries a statutory penalty of fifteen (15) years to life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, both such imprisonment and fine, a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victims Fund, if the sex trafficking involves coercion employing serious harm or a minor under 14 years of age; or ten (10) years to life imprisonment if the sex trafficking involves force, fraud or coercion which does not include coercion employing serious harm, or which does involve a minor who has attained the age of 14 years, but who has not attained the age of 18 years.
• Count 3: Interstate Transportation for Prostitution in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2421, which carries a statutory penalty of imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, both such imprisonment and fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years following any incarceration, and a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victims Fund.
• Count 4: Engaging in and Attempting to Engage in Sex Trafficking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) and 1594(a), which carries the statutory penalties as set forth above regarding Count 2.
• Count 5: Interstate Transportation for Prostitution in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2421, which carries the statutory penalties set forth above regarding Count 3.
• Count 6: Use of the Internet in Aid of Unlawful Activity in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3)(A), which carries a statutory penalty of not more than five (5) years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, both such imprisonment and fine, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, and a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victims Fund.
• Count 7: Use of the Telephone in Aid of Unlawful Activity in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3)(A), which carries the statutory penalties for the use of any facility of interstate commerce as set forth above regarding Count 6.
• Count 8:Use of the Telephone in Aid of Unlawful Activity in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3)(A), which carries the statutory penalties for the use of any facility of interstate commerce as set forth above regarding Count 6.
• Count 9: Attempt to Benefit Financially from Sex Trafficking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(2), which carries a statutory penalty of fifteen (15) years to life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, both such imprisonment and fine, a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100.00 special assessment for the Crime Victims Fund, if the sex trafficking involves coercion employing serious harm or a minor under 14 years of age; or ten (10) years to life imprisonment if the sex trafficking involves force, fraud or coercion which does not include coercion employing serious harm, or which does involve a minor who has attained the age of 14, but who has not attained the age of 18.

As stated in the Indictment, the charges are based upon allegations that the defendants isolated, abused, and manipulated certain persons to coerce them to engage in commercial sex acts. The Indictment further alleges that during and in furtherance of the conspiracy, among the individuals whom the defendants coerced or attempted to coerce into engaging in commercial sex acts were two minor females, one who had attained the age of 14 years, but who had not attained the age of 18 years, and a second minor female who had not attained the age of 14 years.

The indictment further alleges that the defendants engaged in a conspiracy which was carried out in interstate commerce, especially in travel between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska, and in the use of facilities of interstate commerce including the internet and telephones or cell phones. The Indictment further alleges that the defendants engaged in certain acts to carry out the conspiracy, which acts included specific events involving sex trafficking, prostitution, and the use of facilities of interstate commerce including the internet and cell phones.

The prosecution seeks the detention without bond of Defendants Merredith June Crane Horton and Katherine Heredia. A detention hearing is set for June 21, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. The Defendants remain in the custody of the United States Marshal pending their detention hearing. The initial appearance of Ramon D. Heredia in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa on these charges is anticipated in the near future.

Omaha FBI Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun said, “The indictment unsealed today alleges the defendants isolated, abused and manipulated certain persons, some of whom were under-aged girls, to coerce them to engage in commercial sex acts. The protection of the innocent and vulnerable in our community is the FBI's highest priority. Anyone who has been manipulated into prostitution and a life style they regret is encouraged to call the FBI, with the assurance that we understand they are victims.”

The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, and the case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Council Bluffs Police Department, with assistance from the Omaha Police Department.