Oklahoma Woman Sentenced to 6½ Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Child

PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been sentenced in federal court to 78 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release on her conviction of violating the Mann Act by transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of having the individual engage in prostitution and conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Shelby Summer Brown, age 28.

On September 12, 2019, Brown pleaded guilty and admitted that she agreed and conspired with another individual, Oscar Carter, to commit an offense against the United States, that is, to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an individual, Minor A (an individual who had not yet attained the age of 18 years) to travel in interstate commerce, from Ohio to Pennsylvania, to engage in prostitution and any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, and did so, from March 6, 2018 through March 14, 2018.

"Stopping human trafficking is a critical part of our mission. Without the professional and coordinated efforts of the City of Pittsburgh Police, the Cranberry Police Department and the FBI, the child victim would not have been rescued and her traffickers brought to justice. The sex trafficking of children in the Western District of Pennsylvania will not be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney Brady.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon indicated that the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary given Brown’s active participation in this horrible crime. Judge Bissoon acknowledged that Brown’s criminal conduct is a reason that these crimes continue to flourish.

Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cranberry Township Police, and the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Brown.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.