A Milwaukee man, Dajuuan Key, 31, has been sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for transporting a minor to Illinois to engage in prostitution. Key brought the 15-year-old girl to the Chicago area from Madison, Wisconsin, in September 2013, and forced her to engage in commercial sex acts, keeping all of the money for himself.
According to evidence presented at Key’s trial, he encountered the minor online and traveled to Madison to pick her up and bring her to southwest suburban Romeoville. Key took photographs of the girl, provided her with lingerie to wear, and posted advertisements on the website Backpage.com. He then rented multiple hotel rooms that were used for encounters with individuals who responded to the advertisements, collecting all of the money earned by the minor victim.
A jury in February convicted Key on one count of knowingly transporting a minor from Wisconsin to Illinois to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall imposed the 262-month sentence in federal court in Chicago. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Sawyer argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum that Key’s conduct was driven by greed and a willingness to engage in manipulation, deception, and psychological abuse for personal profit.
The victim was rescued by officers of the Romeoville Police Department on September 10, 2013, and Key was arrested. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which is part of a nationwide effort known as the Innocence Lost National Initiative targeting the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the United States.
The sentence was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Romeoville Police Department and the Madison, Wisconsin, Police Department assisted in the case. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Sawyer and Christopher V. Parente.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking and the exploitation of minors in the United States. The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and other law enforcement agencies are working to combat this issue and bring perpetrators to justice. Key’s sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences for those who engage in such heinous crimes.
In a statement, the United States Attorney’s Office emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, particularly children, from exploitation and abuse. The office commended the work of law enforcement agencies involved in the case and reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice for victims of human trafficking and other crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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