North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty To Travel In Furtherance Of Underage Prostitution

Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Charles May, Acting Executive Assistant Director for the Atlantic Operations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, made the announcement after the plea was heard by United States Magistrate Judge Douglas Miller.

Wright was indicted on May 8, 2014 by a federal grand jury on charges of sex trafficking of children; travel in furtherance of criminal activity; and concealment of evidence.  Wright faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when he is sentenced on November 14, 2014 before United States Chief District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

Wright, then on active duty in the U.S. Navy, assisted a 17 year old HIV positive female in running away from her foster home in Hampton Roads.  Wright then paid for backpage.com advertisements for escort services for the 17 year old in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.  Wright was arrested on state charges on March 3, 2014, when he and the victim were discovered by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in base housing on Naval Station Norfolk. 

This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Virginia Beach Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi and Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher A. George are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.