Erie Man Sentenced to 13 years in Jail for Sex Trafficking Two Minor Victims

ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 13 years in jail and 10 years of supervised release on his conviction for sex trafficking of a child and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Devonte Lamonte Lucas, 22.

According to the information presented to the court, from March 2015 to October 2015, Lucas and a co-defendant knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, advertised and maintained two minor victims who engaged in commercial sex acts at the behest of Lucas and his co-defendant. Lucas’ illegal activity was ultimately stopped when members of the Millcreek Police Department observed Lucas transport a minor female to a Millcreek motel. The Millcreek officers, acting in an undercover capacity, had set up a meeting at the motel with one of the victims via an Internet advertisement that had been placed by Lucas’ co-defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Song commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Millcreek Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lucas.