HOUSTON – A 23-year-old man has admitted he recruited a high
school girl and trafficked her for sex, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K.
Patrick.
On several consecutive weekends in late February and early
March 2016, Dihlon Lee Davis used online advertisements for the victim’s
services and rented hotel rooms where some of the commercial sex acts occurred.
The victim attended Manvel high school during the week and
engaged in the sexual activity on the weekends.
On multiple occasions, Davis provided illegal drugs to the
minor victim. He used the money the victim earned to purchase the drugs which
he consumed with his girlfriend - also a minor - and the victim.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. accepted the plea
and set sentencing for Oct. 9, 2019. At that time, Davis faces a minimum of 10
years and up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 fine. He
will also be required to register as a sex offender.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and FBI – Texas
City, both part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA), conducted the
investigation.
HTRA law enforcement includes members of the Houston Police
Department, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security
Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation,
Department of Labor, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage
Commission, DPS, Coast Guard and sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery
counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery
and Fort Bend Counties. Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s
office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and
local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service
organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to
those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been
recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and
assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in
trafficking offenses
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Zack and Kimberly A. Leo
are prosecuting the case.
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