Two Plead Guilty In Child Sex-Trafficking Case

FORT WORTH, Texas — Deundrea R. Miller, 27, appeared in federal court yesterday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton, and pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Co-defendant Brittanie S. Brattain, 22, pleaded guilty on May 1, 2013, to the same offense. Each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means is scheduled to sentence Miller on November 12, 2013, and Brattain on October 15, 2013; both defendants remain in custody. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Prior to September 2012, Brattain had a relationship with Miller. In late September or early October 2012, Brattain and Miller met Jane Doe. They agreed to take pictures of Jane Doe to post advertisements for “dates” on Back Page that would be used for commercial sex acts. Brattain and Miller used a cell phone to take the pictures and post the advertisements.

Some of the commercial sex acts involving Jane Doe occurred in motels in East Fort Worth. After the commercial sex acts, Jane Doe would give the money she received to Miller. Miller and Brattain harbored and maintained Jane Doe while they stayed in these motels.

In January 2013, Miller and Brattain rented a duplex in Fort Worth where commercial sex acts involving Jane Doe also occurred. Also in January 2013, Miller and Brattain posted “escort” advertisements involving Jane Doe. While Jane Doe stayed with Miller and Brattain, Miller and Brattain received financial benefit from her participation in commercial sex acts, all in reckless disregard that Jane Doe was under age 18.

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

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other members of the North Texas Anti-Trafficking Team, including the Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas Police Departments, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem is in charge of the prosecution.