Milwaukee Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking Offenses

United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger has announced that Dameion D. Wyatt (age 40) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, appeared in federal court on Friday April 27th for an arraignment on multiple offenses related to sex trafficking.  

U.S. Attorney Krueger explained that last week, a grand jury returned a ten-count indictment against Wyatt.  Counts One, Two, Six, Seven, and Nine allege that at times from September 2011 to July 2014, Wyatt used force, fraud, and coercion to cause five different adult victims to engage in commercial sex acts, and attempted to do so, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(b)(1) and 1594(a).  Counts Three, Eight and Ten relatedly allege that Wyatt knowingly transported these women across state lines with the intent that they engage in prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2421(a). 

Counts Four and Five relate to a minor victim.  Count Four alleges that Wyatt trafficked the minor, who was 14 years old at the time, for commercial sex in July 2012 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(b)(2), 1594(a), and 2.  Count Five alleges that during the same time period, Wyatt transported the minor across state lines with the intent that the minor engage in prostitution and unlawful sexual activity in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a).

Counts Three, Eight, and Ten each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, while the other counts each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.  Both of the counts involving the minor victim also carry 10-year minimum mandatory prison sentences, and the five counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion each carry 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentences.  All of the charges in Wyatt’s indictment carry additional possible penalties of up to a life term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and up to $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Krueger commented, “Sex trafficking inflicts horrific trauma upon its victims, and these charges are especially heart-breaking because they allege the exploitation of a child.  This Office is committed to prosecuting sex trafficking. We commend the victims in this case for speaking out and helping to ensure that additional women do not become victims of trafficking.  We also commend the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s excellent investigative work.” 

“For more than a year, DOJ led a complex sex trafficking investigation of the Wyatts that spanned multiple states,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. “The indictment announced today, which is the result of great investigative work, finally brings this case closer to a conclusion and is the first steps in delivering justice to the victims.”

This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura S. Kwaterski and Erica J. Lounsberry.   

The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

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For additional information contact:

Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700