Ottumwa Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sex Trafficking
An Ottumwa man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion of two victims, sex trafficking of one child, enticement and attempted enticement of two minors, and using the internet to facilitate prostitution.
Darnell Keith Jones, 32, was sentenced on September 6, 2024 for his crimes, which occurred from 2018 to 2023. According to public court documents, Jones victimized at least five individuals—two children and three adults—throughout parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana.
Jones successfully sex trafficked one adult and one child. To cause his victims to engage in sex acts in exchange for money, Jones used physical assaults, harassment, and threats. He also acted like a boyfriend to his victims, attempting to convince victims that they could demonstrate their loyalty and love by completing sex acts for money.
Jones admitted that he drove his victims to locations where they completed sex acts for money and that he used various internet websites to advertise the adult victims. He coerced and attempted to coerce two female children to engage in illegal sexual conduct, including prostitution.
One child was just fourteen years old, and Jones used text-message communications to persuade the child to engage in prostitution and to engage in sex acts with him. The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies worked together to investigate and prosecute the case.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal made the announcement, stating that the case highlights the need for continued efforts to combat human trafficking in the state of Iowa. The agencies involved in the case included the Ottumwa Police Department, Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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