Desmond Trevain Manago, Sex Trafficking of a Child, Seattle WA, 2014

Desmond Trevain Manago, a long-time Seattle area pimp, was handed a 10-year prison sentence by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez for the sex trafficking of a child, according to Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes. The sentence also includes 25 years of supervised release.

Manago, 26, pleaded guilty in September 2014, admitting to forcing a juvenile female to engage in prostitution across states including Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, and California. Judge Martinez emphasized the severity of Manago’s crime, stating, “Sex trafficking of children is one of the worst crimes… You are affecting someone’s life forever.”

Hayes called Manago a manipulative and predatory defendant, adding that his prison term and federal supervision will serve as protection against future exploitation. Records indicate that between October and December 2012, Manago used force, fraud, and coercion to make the juvenile victim engage in commercial sex acts.

In a disturbing turn of events, Manago advertised the juvenile victim on Backpage.com and compelled her to “walk the track,” a notorious prostitution area. He drove her and an adult woman across multiple states, posting advertisements for them on Backpage.com. Manago physically assaulted the adult victim and left both in California, instructing them to wire their earnings to him in Seattle. The juvenile victim managed to break free from his control once he left her.

Manago had previously been prosecuted as a member of the West Side Street Mobb gang, which forced girls into prostitution. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison for that offense. After his release, Manago continued to operate his prostitution business, even while incarcerated, forcing women to pay part of their earnings to him during his jail term.

Manago was arrested on October 3, 2013, for outstanding warrants and has been in federal custody since. The FBI, King County Sheriff’s Office, and Tacoma Police Department investigated the case, with Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Crisham and Ye-Ting Woo prosecuting it.