Oakland Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking Minors

GRIMY TIMES — A federal indictment rocks the Bay Area as Eugene Latrell McNeely, a 34-year-old from Oakland, faces a life sentence for sex trafficking minors across state lines. According to a federal grand jury in Oakland, McNeely transported an underage girl from Oregon to California with the intent of forcing her into prostitution.

McNeely’s arrest on October 3, 2015, marked the beginning of a grim tale that ended with his arraignment this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. The defendant is now in federal custody, awaiting further proceedings scheduled for May 9, 2017.

Under 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a), McNeely faces a staggering sentence: life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release. The mandatory minimum is 10 years in prison followed by at least five years of supervised release. Forfeiture and restitution are also on the table, depending on the court’s decision.

The Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Gullotta and Trina Khadoo lead this grim prosecution, which stems from a joint investigation between the FBI and the Oakland Police Department. McNeely is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For those who suspect human trafficking or child exploitation, the FBI and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offer lifelines: call 1-888-373-7888 or 1-800-843-5678. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly that traffickers prey on our most vulnerable.

RELATED: Oakland Predator Indicted in Alabama Trafficking

RELATED: Oakland Predator Indicted in Alabama Sex Trafficking