Minor female trafficked to Illinois, Louisiana and Texas, beaten, tracked: DOJ
TENNESSEE — A Tennessee man who transported a juvenile female to several states to engage in commercial sex acts pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday.
Charles Cunigan, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
The plea agreement will send Cunigan to prison for over 22 years if it’s accepted by the court at his sentencing Sept. 24.
Court documents state that Cunigan and his girlfriend, Latesha Gardner, transported the minor from Tennessee to Illinois, Louisiana and Texas during 2021 and 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Cunigan advertised the victim for commercial sex on websites, kept the money the victim made from commercial sex transactions, required the victim to earn a daily quotas from commercial sex, and restricted the victim’s access to food,” a Tuesday DOJ news release states.
He also tracked her location via cellphone and beat her for not following orders, the release adds.
Homeland Security Investigations—New Orleans investigated the case.
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