RICHMOND, Va. - Whitney Hayes, 21, of Charlotte, NC, was sentenced today to 57months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to transport an individual across state lines for prostitution.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jeffrey C. Mazanec, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and D.A. Middleton, Chief of Police for the Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
“The world of sex trafficking is vile and horrific - and unfortunately, it’s happening right here in Central Virginia," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Ms. Hayes found a 13-year-old girl living on the streets and exploited the child’s vulnerability for profit. She taught the victim the business of prostitution and lived with her in hotels for two months while the victim’s family desperately searched for their child. Our utmost priority is to protect our children, and we will continue to go after those who prey on them and lure them into the sexual trade."
Hayes plead guilty on Sept. 27, 2012, to conspiracy to transport an individual across state lines for purpose of prostitution. According to court documents, Hayes worked as a prostitute for Korey Reynolds in the Charlotte area from 2011 through 2012. In a statement of facts filed with her plea agreement, Hayes admitted that in February or March 2012, she met a 13-year old female while she and Reynolds were in Miami, Florida. She recruited the 13-year old to join the prostitution organization. Once they were back in Charlotte, Hayes taught the juvenile the business of prostitution, including posting internet advertisements offering the female as a prostitute to prospective customers. In May 2012, she, Reynolds and another female transported the juvenile from Charlotte to Richmond, Virginia, with the intent that the juvenile engage in prostitution while in Virginia.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Henrico County Police Division. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie L. Mickelson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
