Couple Charged with Pimping Underage Girls
TACOMA, Wash. -- A well-known gang member and his female accomplice were charged Friday with pimping women and underage girls online under threat of violence, according to the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, 27-year-old Marteze Clair posted 226 prostitution ads for women and underage girls on Backpage.com between November 2013 and June 2014.
Clair's accomplice, 23-year-old Erica Cromartie was in charge of recruiting and training the victims, as well as collecting all the money from their "dates," according to the Prosecutor's Office.
Clair and Cromartie, who reportedly gave the victims drugs and threatened them with violence, were arrested Thursday night in a Bremerton motel. They have been charged with human trafficking, leading organized crime, promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor and promoting prostitution.
“Street gangs are moving into pimping to supplement their drug sales,” Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said in a press release. “We are vigorously prosecuting these cases, particularly those involving underage girls.”
Clair pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday afternoon and is being held on $1 million bail. Police are continuing to look for more victims..
Source: Komonews.com
According to the Prosecutor's Office, 27-year-old Marteze Clair posted 226 prostitution ads for women and underage girls on Backpage.com between November 2013 and June 2014.
Clair's accomplice, 23-year-old Erica Cromartie was in charge of recruiting and training the victims, as well as collecting all the money from their "dates," according to the Prosecutor's Office.
Clair and Cromartie, who reportedly gave the victims drugs and threatened them with violence, were arrested Thursday night in a Bremerton motel. They have been charged with human trafficking, leading organized crime, promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor and promoting prostitution.
“Street gangs are moving into pimping to supplement their drug sales,” Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said in a press release. “We are vigorously prosecuting these cases, particularly those involving underage girls.”
Clair pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday afternoon and is being held on $1 million bail. Police are continuing to look for more victims..
Source: Komonews.com
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