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

MAY 14, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING INITIATIVE

KC MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO RECRUITING MINORS

FOR PROSTITUTION

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to recruiting minors for prostitution.

Don L. Elbert II, 25, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith this morning to the charge contained in a Sept. 13, 2006, federal indictment.

Elbert admitted that he engaged in acts to recruit, transport and harbor three minor females, knowing that these three minor girls would be caused to engage in commercial sex acts, on May 10 and June 21, 2006. Elbert utilized telephones to communicate with these minor females and a 1988 Chevrolet Suburban to transport them.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the United States will not seek a sentence in excess of eight years in federal prison without parole, and Elbert will not seek a sentence of less than eight years in federal prison without parole. By adopting the binding plea agreement, the court has accepted that joint sentencing recommendation. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 12, 2007.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia Phillips and Curt Bohling. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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