human trafficking rescue project
chillicothe man sentenced to 21 years in prison for selling children for prostitution
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Chillicothe, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for child sex trafficking involving the sale of at least five minor victims for prostitution.
Randal G. Jennings, 43, of Chillicothe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court has taken under advisement the government’s request that Jennings pay $882,650 in restitution to his victims ($176,530 for each of five victims) and will rule on that issue at a later date.
On July 16, 2009, Jennings pleaded guilty to the commercial sex trafficking of children. Jennings admitted that he attempted to recruit five child victims to work for him as prostitutes. After recruiting the girls to motel rooms, he had the children pose for sexually explicit photos, which he used to advertise the children for sexual services on Internet Web sites. Jennings pimped out the girls for years, including one victim who was prostituted from the ages of 14 to 17.
The minor victims were caught in prostitution stings conducted by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department. With the exception of one occasion, Jennings was also caught driving the girls to the motel sting locations. In each of the stings, the minors agreed to perform sexual services for the undercover law enforcement officer in exchange for monetary payment.
Jennings was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, following an undercover prostitution sting at a motel in Johnson County, Kan. Responding to an ad on the Internet, an undercover law enforcement officer arranged to meet two girls for sexual activity. Shortly afterward, Jennings dropped off two minor females at the agreed location. The two females, who were each 17 years old, agreed to perform sexual acts for $300. They were taken into protective custody. Jennings returned afterward, driving the same white van in which he had earlier brought the minors to the hotel, and was arrested.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Cordes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.
