San Antonio Woman Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Children

In San Antonio this morning, 20-year-old Amber Doak pleaded guilty to her role in prostituting a 15-year-old female in August of last year, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse, San Antonio Division.

Appearing before United States Chief District Judge Fred Biery this morning, Doak pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of children. By pleading guilty, Doak admitted to knowingly enticing and encouraging a minor into engaging in sexual acts for money. She also admitted to using a mobile phone provided by 38–year-old co-defendant Marcus Deshawn Wright to take pictures of the victim so that Wright and another co-defendant, 21-year-old Malcom Deandre Copeland, of San Antonio, could use them to advertise the minor on Backpage.com, an Internet website well known for providing a prostitution advertising forum under the pretext of “escorts.” Furthermore, Doak admitted that she fielded inquiries from individuals responding to the prostitution advertisement on Backpage.com and also traveled with Wright and Copeland as they transported the victim to multiple locations to engage in commercial sex.

Doak, who remains in federal custody, faces between 10 years and life in federal prison when she is sentenced by Judge Biery on September 12, 2014.

Copeland and Wright, who are also in federal custody, are set for jury selection and trial on April 7, 2014, before Judge Biery on the sex trafficking of children charge.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) together with the San Antonio Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bettina Richardson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.