Charleston Harris, Sex Trafficking, Maryland 2015

Greenbelt, Maryland - In a shocking turn of events, two Washington, D.C. residents, Charleston Harris, also known as "Giovanni," and Phoebe Omwega, also known as "Star," and "Sparkles," were arrested and charged with conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, and attempted sex trafficking of a minor.

According to the indictment, Harris and Omwega conspired to recruit minor females and adult females to engage in commercial sex acts from October 2012 through June 2015. Harris and Omwega benefited financially from the proceeds generated by prostitution, including prostitution services provided by minor females.

Harris and Omwega allegedly created and posted advertisements on Internet websites that advertised adult females and minor females for prostitution using fake names, false ages, and pictures of females different from the actual females being advertised. Harris and Omwega facilitated prostitution by directing and managing multiple adult females and minor females to engage in prostitution and collected prostitution proceeds directly from the females.

The indictment alleges that Harris used violence and threats of violence to coerce adult females and minor females into complying with Harris's directions and rules, including that the females could not contact family members or other individuals outside Harris's organization. The indictment also alleges that Harris physically assaulted a minor female victim in December 2012 for violating his rules.

Harris and Omwega each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Harris also faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison for attempted sex trafficking of a minor.

An initial appearance was held for Harris and Omwega today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jillyn K. Schulze in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. Omwega and Harris were detained pending detention hearings scheduled for October 23, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. and October 26, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., respectively.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/federal-indictment-charges-two-washington-dc-residents-sex-trafficking-minor