Milwaukee Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking

Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion.

Justin Damon Keith, age 30, was indicted on July 7, 2015.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 14, 2015, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty upon conviction of 15 years in prison, with a maximum of life in prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

Between July 2014 and May 2015, the defendant allegedly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained a person, knowingly and recklessly disregarding that means of force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion would be used to cause the victim to engage in a commercial sex act.

The charge is merely an accusation and Keith is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.  

Keith was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.