Tevon Harris, 22, Guilty of Sex Trafficking of Children in Houston
HOUSTON – In a shocking case of exploitation, Tevon Harris, aka ‘Da Kidd’ and ‘King Kidd,’ a 22-year-old Houston man, has pleaded guilty to two charges of trafficking children under 18 for commercial sex.
According to the plea agreement, Harris forced young girls, who he knew were minors, into prostitution by using force and intimidation. He met the victims on social networking sites and promised to help them become models, but instead, he would pick them up, take them to motel rooms, and force them to have sex with him.
Harris deprived the victims of their cell phones, cutting off their communication with the outside world, and used violence to keep them cooperating. In one instance, he deprived a victim of food for more than four days because he did not believe she was servicing his clients well enough. He also supplied her with marijuana and alcohol.
Another victim was beaten with a towel rack torn from a motel room wall when Harris found her using the phone to call her mother for help. The victims were photographed and their images were posted in online ads for prostitution, and Harris kept all the money they earned.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted the guilty pleas today and set sentencing for July 7, 2014. Harris faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Harris also faces a maximum of life on supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The investigation by the Houston FBI Innocence Lost Task Force, which includes agencies such as the Houston Police Department, developed this case using statements from victims as well as online advertisements for the victims’ services and hotel records from several hotels.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri L. Zack as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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