Christopher L. Childs, Sex Trafficking, Wisconsin 2019

Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

A federal indictment has brought justice to a sex trafficking ring operating in Milwaukee and surrounding areas.

Christopher L. Childs, 47, of Hartford, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty on October 3, 2019, to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) & 1591(b)(1),

according to a press release from United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger. As part of his plea agreement, Childs acknowledged that he operated as a pimp in the Milwaukee area and elsewhere, recruiting adult females and at least one minor female to work for him.

Childs caused the females to perform prostitution dates using fraud, coercion, and, at times, force and threats of force, requiring his victims to provide their earnings to him. He transported victims to strip clubs and other locations inside and outside of Wisconsin.

As part of his plea agreement, Childs agreed that in addition to the individual victim identified in the count of conviction, five other women described in a Second Superseding Indictment filed in the case could be considered victims for sentencing purposes.

Christopher L. Childs faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison at his sentencing hearing scheduled for May 21, 2020. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and will be required to complete a term of supervised release following his release from federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Racine Police Department, United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, Hartford Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Deposition Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Milwaukee Police Department, Watertown Police Department, and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Richard G. Frohling are handling the prosecution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/hartford-man-pleads-guilty-sex-trafficking-and-faces-minimum-15-years-federal-prison