Keon Jamar Nunnelly, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, California 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Sacramento pimp has been sentenced to over a decade behind bars for his role in the sex trafficking of a minor, according to court documents.

Keon Jamar Nunnelly, 30, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 10 years and 5 months in prison, to be followed by a 10-year period of supervised release where he is required to register as a sex offender, for sex trafficking of a minor, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, from January 13, 2013, until June 17, 2013, Nunnelly caused a 16-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts in Sacramento and Anaheim. He provided directions on when and where she should work, transported her to customers, and provided security. Nunnelly and two co-defendants rented hotel rooms to be used for prostitution and placed ads with the victim’s picture on the Internet.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Sacramento Child Exploitation Task Force, the Anaheim Police Department, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The task force works to identify and recover minors involved in the commercial sex trade and to investigate and prosecute those who profit from that trade.

On August 12, 2014, Nunnelly pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, and coercion. Co-defendants Kia Moore, 30, and Sharon King, 31, pleaded guilty to concealing a felony and were sentenced earlier this year to time served.

Nunnelly’s sentence is a result of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of sex trafficking and the importance of holding those responsible accountable. As a society, we must work together to prevent this heinous crime and protect our most vulnerable citizens.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Keon Jamar Nunnelly
Criminal Charges: Sex Trafficking of a Minor by Force, Fraud, and Coercion
City and State: Sacramento, California
Date: August 12, 2014 (sentencing)
Sentence: 10 years and 5 months in prison, followed by a 10-year period of supervised release

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