Two men from the Chicago suburbs have been federally indicted on charges of orchestrating a sex trafficking ring that preyed on vulnerable women, including a minor, for commercial profit. Kendall Guyton, 25, of Joliet, and Gregory Ingram, 41, of Richton Park, are accused of using force, threats, fraud, and coercion to push three victims into prostitution between 2017 and 2018.
The indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, alleges that Guyton and Ingram conspired to traffic the victims for financial gain. One of the victims was under 18 years old when she was lured into a commercial sex act by the defendants. Prosecutors say the exploitation was systematic, leveraging intimidation and manipulation to maintain control over the women.
Guyton is currently held in state custody on an unrelated charge, delaying his federal arraignment. Ingram, who has pleaded not guilty, is set for a detention hearing on August 25, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis. Both men now face the full weight of federal prosecution in a case that underscores the ongoing battle against domestic sex trafficking.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. The investigation was a joint effort involving multiple local agencies, including the Carol Stream, Lisle, Joliet, and Richton Park police departments, along with the Will County Sheriff’s Office.
Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. A mandatory minimum of 15 years applies under federal law. The court will determine final sentencing based on federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abigail Peluso and Christine M. O’Neill are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department reminds the public that an indictment is not evidence of guilt—defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Anyone who believes they are a victim of sexual exploitation is urged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit missingkids.com for confidential, 24/7 support.
Related Federal Cases
- Deronarte Norwood Indicted in Minor Sex Trafficking Case · Wisconsin
- Tyrell L. Moss Indicted in Interstate Child Sex Trafficking Case · Washington
- Brittany Stenberg Gets 10 Years for Child Sex Trafficking · Illinois
- Benjamin Biancofiori Convicted in Brutal Sex Trafficking Ring · Illinois
- Marlin Santana Thomas Gets Life for Sex Trafficking · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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