ST. LOUIS, MO—Carla Mathews was indicted
on multiple charges involving the sex trafficking of two area women by force
and intimidation.
According to the indictment, between
2010 and the present time, Carla Mathews recruited and maintained women,
physically assaulted them, and forced them to engage in prostitution in the St.
Louis metropolitan area. The indictment alleges that Mathews took the women to
various hotels and kept the money for herself. Additionally, the indictment
alleges that she confiscated their food-stamp identification (EBT) cards to
control them and deprive them of food and drink as a method of control and
provided the drug MDMA and clothing in preparation for the commercial sex dates
arranged by Mathews.
Mathews, 26, St. Louis, was indicted by
a federal grand jury on three felony counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud,
or coercion. The indictment was returned Wednesday, May 9 but remained sealed
until the arrest of the defendant earlier today. She is expected to appear in
federal court today.
If convicted, each count of the
indictment carries a penalty range of 15 years to life in prison and/or fines
up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to
consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing
ranges.
This case was investigated by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of
Investigations, and the Breckenridge Hills Police Department. Assistant United
States Attorney Noelle Collins is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s
Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth
in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment