Terrell Shankle, a/k/a “King Relly” (age 40), of Milwaukee, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison for running a brutal sex trafficking ring that exploited minors and women through violence, fraud, and coercion. The sentence, handed down by a federal judge in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, marks the end of a years-long prosecution that exposed the harrowing abuse Shankle inflicted on his victims over a six-year period.
Shankle was convicted after a federal jury trial on September 6, 2017, on five counts of sex trafficking a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, along with one count of conspiracy to transport a minor across state lines for prostitution. The evidence revealed he operated as a violent pimp who recruited girls as young as 16 with false promises of money and a better life—only to trap them in a cycle of exploitation across Milwaukee and Chicago.
Victims testified that Shankle used relentless physical violence to maintain control. One survivor said he beat her nearly every day for three years starting at age 16, once striking her in the face with a “pimp cane” and then assaulting her again when she sought medical care. He threatened to kill her family if she ever tried to escape. Another victim told the court he pressed a pistol to her head over missing money and shot a gun at another victim’s feet as punishment for disobedience.
The trial also uncovered Shankle’s symbol of dominance: he forced some victims to get tattoos of his name, branding them as property. These tattoos weren’t just marks—they were warnings carved into flesh, signaling his ownership and control. His operation thrived on fear, with victims too terrified to run or speak out for years.
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, emphasized the case’s significance: “Sex traffickers prey upon some of the most vulnerable members of society, subjecting victims to extraordinary levels of violence and brutality to force them to engage in commercial sex acts. This prosecution is the result of an outstanding joint investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Milwaukee Police Department.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin W. Proctor and Erica J. Lounsberry. Shankle will serve 25 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Federal authorities say the conviction sends a clear message: those who profit from the suffering of others will face relentless pursuit and severe punishment.
Related Federal Cases
- Milwaukee Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor · Wisconsin
- Deronarte Norwood Indicted in Minor Sex Trafficking Case · Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Mom Bilks Pregnant Women, Gets 10 Years · Wisconsin
- Heath-Lowther Gets 19+ Years for Trafficking Minor · Wisconsin
- Szczerba Gets 11+ Years in Prostitution Trafficking · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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