Martavis Walker, Promoting Prostitution, Missouri 2024

Two Men Admit Promoting Prostitution in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS - In a disturbing case of human trafficking, two men from Tennessee have admitted promoting prostitution in the St. Louis area.

Martavis Walker, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. According to Walker's plea, he met a woman in Tennessee in late December 2023 and forced her to work in well-known prostitution areas in Memphis. Walker created online ads and forced the woman to engage in at least a dozen sex acts in Memphis before taking her to St. Louis on January 12, 2024, where he forced her to engage in commercial sex acts at hotels and Airbnb rentals.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case against Walker. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting the case.

Walker is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2024. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine.

Domaniko McCrary, 33, of Memphis, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the same charge in an unrelated case. According to McCrary's plea, he bought a bus ticket for himself and the victim and traveled to the Eastern District of Missouri on April 16, 2023. McCrary then rented two hotel rooms so that the victim could engage in commercial sex acts.

The Hazelwood Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case against McCrary.

McCrary is also awaiting sentencing. The exact date of his sentencing is not specified in the press release.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/two-admit-promoting-prostitution-women-st-louis