Cleveland man faces additonal charge related to sex trafficking of children

A grand jury returned a three-count superseding indictment charging Ronnie L. Pratt, Jr., 20, with three counts of sex trafficking children, said Carole S. Rendon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.

Pratt utilized the website backpage.com to advertise and traffic three minor girls, one of whom was under the age of 14 at the conduct began, according to court documents.

The conduct took place between July and November 2015, according to the indictment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Carmen Henderson following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.