Richmond Man Pleads Guilty to Enticement and Sex Trafficking of a Minor

RICHMOND, Va. – Stephen T. Callis, 47, of Richmond, pleaded guilty today to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor, and sex trafficking of children. 

In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Callis admitted that he posed online via KIK Messenger as a 15-year-old girl, “Kayla,” in order to initiate communication with the juvenile victim.  Posing as “Kayla” on KIK Messenger, Callis discussed engaging in prostitution with older men with the juvenile victim, and said that “Kayla” would introduce the juvenile to older men for the purpose of prostitution.  Callis then used the “Kayla” persona to introduce the juvenile to “Mark,” another alias Callis used online.

According to court documents, Callis and the juvenile then engaged in sexual conversations via KIK Messenger.  The juvenile and Callis arranged to meet for the first time in approximately November 2014.  Callis rented a hotel room for their first meeting and paid the juvenile $60 for sexual services.  Callis and the juvenile engaged in sex acts in a hotel room approximately seven times, and Callis paid the juvenile for sexual acts on approximately five of those occasions.  Callis was aware that the juvenile was a minor.  Throughout this time, Callis and the juvenile continued to engage in sexual conversations via KIK Messenger, and the juvenile sent Callis naked pictures via KIK Messenger. 

Callis was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 5, 2016, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on June 2, 2016. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Hart is prosecuting 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. 3:16-cr-003.