Mark Jay Albrecht, Commercial Sex, Montana 2021

A Wyoming man has been sentenced for his role in arranging commercial sex in Billings and then lying to federal investigators.

Mark Jay Albrecht, 66, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $7,500, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

According to court documents, law enforcement responded to a report of possible commercial sex activity at a Billings motel on April 21, 2021. Billings police officers knocked on the door of the suspect room and announced themselves. A woman, identified as Ashley Stella, of Reno, Nevada, and a minor, Jane Doe 1, emerged. Albrecht was seen buttoning up his shirt as he exited the room. Albrecht initially denied to police and FBI officers that he was in the room for a sexual encounter and offered various stories about why he was there.

Ultimately, Albrecht acknowledged going to the room to engage in commercial sex and using a social media website and his cell phone to arrange for commercial sex. Stella acknowledged in interviews that Albrecht was in the room for commercial sex, and that Jane Doe 1 traveled with her for the purpose of commercial sex.

Following the events of April 21, 2021, law enforcement began a federal sex trafficking investigation. Albrecht arrived for an interview with law enforcement in May 2021 and repeatedly stated that he did not go to the motel for the purpose of commercial sex. Rather, Albrecht offered another story about why he was communicating with Stella. Albrecht never admitted he was soliciting commercial sex during his May 2021 interview, contrary to facts known by law enforcement.

Stella was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for conviction of transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case, while the FBI, IRS, and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.

The exact criminal charges filed against Albrecht were use of facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering and making a false statement. The case was heard in U.S. District Court in Billings on February 20, 2023, where U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters found Albrecht guilty.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/wyoming-man-sentenced-fined-7500-role-billings-commercial-sex-investigation-lying