Hagerstown Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of a Child

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Richard Dane Small, age 31, of Hagerstown, Maryland, today on charges of transporting a minor to engage in sex, and sex trafficking of a minor.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith.

According to the indictment, and affidavit in support of the previously filed complaint, on June 22, 2015, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office received a tip concerning possible prostitution at a hotel room in Frederick.  During subsequent surveillance of the hotel, Small was seen leaving the hotel room with two girls and driving away.  Police stopped the vehicle in Frederick for an expired vehicle registration.  Small and the girls initially identified themselves using false names.  The girls were 15 and 17 years old.

The indictment alleges that in June 2015 Small traveled to Johnstown, Pennsylvania with the 15 year old girl to pick up the 17 year old girl, and transported the girls to hotels and other locations in Maryland.  Small recruited and enticed the girls to engage in prostitution for him.

According to the indictment, Small persuaded the 15 year old girl to make herself available for prostitution by posting ads on a website. Small directed the 15 year old girl to take calls from clients responding to the ads.  Small received the money that she made from prostituting. 

Small faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life  in prison followed by up to lifetime of supervised release for both charges.  Small is currently detained.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

This case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders.  Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members.  For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.

Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Frederick and Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Maddox and Seema Mittal, who are prosecuting the case.