Cincinnati Man ‘Scorpio’ Convicted of Sex Trafficking Teens

A federal jury in Cincinnati has delivered a guilty verdict in the high-profile case of Kelly Richards, a 43-year-old man known to his victims as ‘Scorpio’ due to a tattoo of a scorpion on the left side of his face.

The jury found Richards guilty on all counts, including sex trafficking minors, sexually exploiting children, and illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

According to court documents and trial testimony, investigators were alerted in March 2023 that two juveniles had been screened as potential sex trafficking victims. Richards, who picked up the two minor victims at a group home in Dayton, drove them to an apartment complex in Cincinnati, where he provided them with cocaine before sexually assaulting them.

The defendant, who used physical violence against the victims, enticed them into having sex with other men for money that was paid to him. Richards also created prostitution advertisements online with explicit pictures of the minor victims.

Court documents detail that one victim was prostituted up to four times per day in hotels and homes. Sexually exploiting children is a federal crime punishable by a range of 15 to 30 years in prison, while sex trafficking minors carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

Federal agents arrested Richards on May 16, 2023. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker and FBI Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola announced the verdict returned the evening of April 30. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Megan Painter Gaffney represented the United States in this case.

The conviction of Kelly Richards serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of sex trafficking and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

As the Grimy Times continues to follow this story, we will provide updates on the sentencing of Richards and any related developments.