HOUSTON – A federal jury sitting in Houston has convicted a
24-year-old after hearing how he threatened two young girls and required them
to engage in commercial sex, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
They deliberated for approximately two and a half hours
before convicting Romello Lee, 24, Houston, following less than two days of
trial. He was convicted on one count of trafficking a minor for commercial sex
and one count of trafficking a minor by force for commercial sex.
During trial, the jury heard that Lee used Backpage.com, a
defunct solicitation website, to advertise the sexual services of two minor
victims, ages 14 and 16.
From July 2017 to March 2018, Lee harbored, advertised and
profited from commercial sex acts of the 16-year-old minor victim. He required
her to earn a quota of up to $500 per night and would threaten and beat her if
she disobeyed him.
A second victim was held against her will and required to
engage in sexual acts by threats of violence and coercion.
Jurors heard from the second victim as well as another adult
victim he managed. They testified as to the consequences if they were to escape
and how they were expected to be branded with a tattoo of his name or rap
label.
The jury also saw numerous Backpage ads Lee posted as well
as Instagram posts and text messages between him and the minor victim,
detailing his control of her dates, her nightly quota and her beatings.
Law enforcement ultimately arrested Lee in a sting operation
with one of the minors at a hotel in northwest Houston.
U.S. District David Hittner presided over the trial and set
sentencing for May 29. At that time, Lee faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years
and up to life in prison for the sex trafficking of a minor as well as at least
15 years and up to life for the trafficking of minor by force.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Police
Department and FBI conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking
Rescue Alliance (HTRA).
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 (DOL), DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State,
Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public
Safety, Department of Homeland Security
– Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration – OIG 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 Richard D. Hanes and Heather Winter
are prosecuting the case.
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