Tiara Jade Newman Sentenced in Teen Sex Trafficking Case

TOPEKA, KAN. — A 23-year-old Topeka woman has been sentenced to 34 months in federal prison for her role in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall announced Friday. Tiara Jade Newman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, admitting she helped transport the minor across Kansas for commercial sex acts.

On March 21, 2015, Newman and her husband, Reginald Newman, 30, of Topeka, Kan., drove the teenage girl from Topeka to Junction City. There, they rented two rooms at a Value Place motel. One room was used for prostitution; the other served as their sleeping quarters. The couple then arranged for a soldier stationed at Fort Riley to pay $250 for sex with both women.

Investigators say the operation escalated when Newman took the girl on an “out call” to the Fairfield Inn in Manhattan, Kan. During the encounter, Newman told the customer the girl was new and that she was training her in the business. The man, sensing the teen’s anxiety, gave her a separate cash tip—evidence that later helped expose the trafficking scheme.

Reginald Newman, who admitted to collecting all proceeds from the commercial sex acts, also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Authorities say the couple exploited the minor under the guise of mentorship and opportunity, preying on her vulnerability for financial gain.

The case was the result of a multi-agency investigation involving the Topeka Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Riley County and Junction City Police Departments, the Kansas Department of Revenue, Fort Riley Police, Ottawa Police, and local prosecutors from Shawnee, Pottawatomie, and Riley Counties. Human trafficking victim specialists also played a critical role in supporting the survivor.

U.S. Attorney Beall credited Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney, who prosecuted the case, for securing justice in what he called a “disturbing example of exploitation targeting underage girls.” The sentence sends a clear message: those who profit from trafficking children will face federal time.