Dallas-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Traffic Minor into the New Orleans Area for Purpose of Prostitution and Obstruction of Justice

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that TAUREAN JACKSON, age 25, from Dallas, Texas, pled guilty today to conspiring to traffic a minor from the Dallas area into the New Orleans area for the purposes of that minor engaging in prostitution and obstructing  a federal investigation into his conduct.

According to court documents, JACKSON created and operated “Star City Vixens,” an escort agency that was a front for prostitution activity.  Star City Vixens advertised “upscale adult entertainment” that would travel around the country to “major social events.”  JACKSON initially recruited his “bottom” prostitute, A.B., to join “Star City Vixens,” in 2012.  JACKSON became A.B.’s pimp and arranged for her to engage in sexual acts with others in exchange for money.

JACKSON was responsible for advertising and scheduling prostitution calls with A.B. JACKSON kept all, or most, of the proceeds from the prostitution calls.  As a means of controlling A.B.’s behavior and ensuring her compliance, JACKSON beat and choked her on multiple occasions, often in front of others.  On several occasions, JACKSON burned A.B. with lit cigarettes to discipline her.

In mid-June 2013, JACKSON and A.B. met the victim, who was then 16-years-old, in the Dallas-area and recruited her to begin working for JACKSON as a prostitute.  As part of his recruitment process, JACKSON showed the victim a video he recorded and uploaded to Youtube.com that depicted the purportedly glamorous life of a prostitute and showed JACKSON and A.B. in a hotel room, riding in a stretch limousine, drinking champagne, and eating a heaping plate of nachos.

Over the course of the next several weeks, JACKSON and A.B. drove the victim throughout Texas and Louisiana for the purpose of A.B. and the victim engaging in prostitution, which JACKSON advertised, arranged, and scheduled using an online classified advertisement.  JACKSON arranged for the victim to watch A.B. engage in prostitution acts as a means of educating her on the best way to perform sexual acts.  JACKSON required A.B. to turn over all, or most, of the proceeds she earned from prostitution calls.

JACKSON disciplined A.B. in front of the victim and told the victim that he would do the same to her if she ever tried to leave him.  Additionally, the victim was prepared to testify that on at least one occasion JACKSON struck her across the legs and buttocks with an extension cord.

On July 10, 2013, A.B. and the victim were arrested in a Metairie hotel room by undercover law enforcement officers who responded to an online classified advertisement offering a prostitution date.

A.B., who pled guilty in September 2014 for her role in traffic the victim, faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.  She may also be required to register as a sex offender.  U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for April 8, 2015.

JACKSON faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.  He may also be required to register as a sex offender.  U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for May 20, 2015.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office – Vice Division, with assistance from the FBI Dallas Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Dallas Police Department High Risk Victims Unit in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Brandon Long are in charge of the prosecution.