Jury Convicts Sex Offender of Prostituting Two Minor Victims

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Dumfries man was convicted today by a federal jury on charges of sex trafficking of minors.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Michael Edward Gunn, 40, a previously convicted sex offender, was a pimp who sex trafficked two minor victims from July 2013 to July 2015. Gunn lured the two minor victims into his prostitution ring and kept them there by providing drugs, telling the victims the ring was a family that took care of each other, providing the victims a place to stay, and by engaging in sexual relationships with both minor victims.

According to evidence presented at trial, Gunn helped create online advertisements, drove them to prostitution appointments, and collected and controlled the money. Evidence also showed that Gunn knew both minor victims were underage. For example, around the time one of the victims was 14 years old, Gunn saw a missing persons poster with the girl’s photo and her actual date of birth.

Gunn’s two co-conspirators, adult prostitutes who assisted him in running the prostitution ring, testified at trial as to Gunn’s role in leading the conspiracy.

Gunn faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on December 22. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, M. Jay Farr, Arlington County Chief of Police, Barry M. Barnard, Chief of Prince William County Police, and Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen Cain and Kimberly R. Pedersen are prosecuting the case.

The Dumfries Police Department provided significant assistance with this investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-137.