NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

FEBRUARY 5, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESCUE PROJECT

CHILLICOTHE MAN INDICTED FOR

SEX TRAFFICKING CHILDREN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Chillicothe, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges related to child sex trafficking involving five minor victims.

Randal G. Jennings, 42, of Chillicothe, was charged in a 13-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Jennings on Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.

Today’s indictment alleges that Jennings recruited five minors to engage in commercial sex acts and that he obtained children for the purpose of producing child pornography and advertising the minors for prostitution.

Jennings is charged with four counts of commercial sex trafficking of children from October 2007 to January 2009. Under federal statutes, each of those counts carries a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence, with a maximum sentence of life in federal prison without parole.

Jennings is charged with two counts of obtaining a child for producing child pornography. Under federal statutes, each of those counts carries a 30-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. Jennings is also charged with two counts of inducing a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the production of child pornography. Under federal statutes, each of those counts carries a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

Jennings is charged with three counts of transporting a child across state lines for prostitution. Under federal statutes, each of those counts carries a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

Jennings is charged with two counts of publishing an advertisement that involved the use of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Under federal statutes, each of those counts carries a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Jennings was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, following an undercover prostitution sting at a motel in Johnson County, Kan. Responding to an ad on the Internet, an undercover law enforcement officer arranged to meet two girls for sexual activity. Shortly afterward, the affidavit says, Jennings dropped off two minor females at the agreed location. The two females, who were each 17 years old, agreed to perform sexual acts for $300. They were taken into protective custody.

Jennings returned afterward, driving the same white van in which he had earlier brought the minors to the hotel, and was arrested.

Wood cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Cordes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department.

****************

This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at