Cunigan Admits to Brutal Sex Trafficking Scheme

WASHINGTON – Charles Cunigan, 31, of Tennessee, has admitted to a horrific crime: conspiring to traffic a minor for sex and carrying it out through force and intimidation. The guilty plea, entered today, details a cross-state exploitation ring that spanned from December 2021 to March 2022, leaving a trail of abuse and control.

According to federal court documents, Cunigan, alongside his girlfriend Latesha Gardner, transported the victim – a minor throughout the entirety of the scheme – across state lines. The pair moved the victim from Tennessee, through Illinois, Louisiana, and into Texas, all for the purpose of forcing her into commercial sex acts. Cunigan didn’t just facilitate the abuse; he profited from it, pocketing the money earned from the victim’s exploitation. He imposed a daily earnings quota, and cruelly restricted the victim’s access to food as a method of control.

The level of control Cunigan exerted was chilling. He used a cell phone application to track the victim’s location constantly, and issued direct threats, telling her he would locate and kill her if she attempted to escape. But the coercion didn’t stop at threats. Cunigan employed physical violence, repeatedly beating the victim when she didn’t comply with his demands. One documented incident in February 2022 saw Cunigan punch and kick the victim during a violent altercation. Gardner, his accomplice, was also directed to use physical force against the victim on occasion, solidifying their coordinated campaign of abuse.

The Department of Justice has secured a plea agreement. Cunigan is scheduled for sentencing on September 24th. If accepted by the court, he will face 22 years and six months in federal prison. Beyond imprisonment, Cunigan has agreed to pay $48,750 in restitution to the victim, a small measure of recompense for the trauma inflicted. Upon his release, he will be required to register as a sex offender and adhere to all associated notification requirements.

The investigation was a joint effort led by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Deputy Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans. HSI New Orleans spearheaded the investigation, uncovering the details of this harrowing case.

The prosecution is being handled by Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Eastern District of Louisiana. This case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of human trafficking and the ruthless individuals who prey on vulnerable victims. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.