Indictment Unsealed Charging Five with Child Sex Trafficking in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma –  A federal indictment was unsealed today charging TONYA GUM, TRUNG DUONG, WILLIAM BAKER, RUSSELL EHRENS, and CURTIS ANTHONY with child sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on June 16, 2015. The  indictment alleges that in October 2014, Ms. Gum, who goes by the name "Carmen," and others operated an escort service that provided females, including 14- and 15-year-old juveniles, to men for prostitution.  Mr. Duong, Mr. Baker, Mr. Ehrens, and Mr. Anthony are men who are alleged to have obtained juvenile females for prostitution dates by contacting Ms. Gum.

The indictment alleges that Ms. Gum arranged "dates" for Mr. Duong and Mr. Baker with a 14-year-old girl at their respective residences in October 2014.  After each date, the 14-year-old was driven to deliver personally a portion of the proceeds of the commercial sex act to Ms. Gum.  The indictment alleges Ms. Gum provided Mr. Anthony with 14- and 15-year-old juveniles in late October 2014.  Both girls took off their clothes for Mr. Anthony, and he completed a commercial sex act with the 15-year-old girl.  According to court records, Ms. Gum arranged for a 14-year-old girl to go to the residence of Mr. Ehrens on October 15, 2014.  After the commercial sex transaction was completed, the girl then delivered the proceeds of the commercial sex transaction with Mr. Ehrens to Ms. Gum.

The indictment was unsealed today after Ms. Gum, Mr. Duong, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Anthony were arrested at their homes yesterday.  For child sex trafficking, each of the charged defendants faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and up to life in prison and a fine of $250,000.  For conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking, each of the charged defendants faces up to life in prison and a fine of $250,000.  Further, the indictment seeks forfeiture from each defendant, including the residences at which the “dates” took place.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Human Trafficking Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. McKenzie Anderson and Julia E. Barry.

Reference is made to the indictment and other public filings for further information.  An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.