Texas Man Sentenced for Transporting a Minor to Joplin for Prostitution

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Texas man was sentenced in federal court today for transporting a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution.

Jerrod Lamonte Marshall, also known as “Jacoby” and “Wood,” 40, of Amarillo, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Marshall to pay $2,900 in restitution to his victim. Today’s sentence must be served consecutively to an unrelated Texas case.

On Feb. 6, 2013, Marshall pleaded guilty to transporting a minor to engage in prostitution.

The 15-year-old victim, identified as “M.S.,” was arrested for prostitution by the Joplin Police Department on Jan. 20, 2012. She told investigators that she had been working as a prostitute for Marshall in Tulsa, Okla., prior to being moved to Joplin.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kelleher. It was investigated by the FBI, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the Fayetteville, Ark., Police Department.