Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Arthur Gerald Reid, 27, of Macon, Georgia, pled guilty to Sex Trafficking of Children on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. The defendant’s guilty plea was entered before the Honorable Hugh Lawson, United States District Court Judge, in Macon, Georgia.
In his plea agreement, the defendant admitted that beginning in September, 2011, and continuing until February, 2013, he prostituted a juvenile victim from various motel rooms in Macon, Georgia, and in Tybee Island, Georgia, through the utilization of backpage.com, an erotic services website. Mr. Reid was physically violent toward this juvenile victim. The defendant was encountered by law enforcement on Feb. 26, 2013 at a Macon, Georgia, motel. In his custody and control was the juvenile victim to which Mr. Reid pled guilty as well as two additional juvenile victims. Mr. Reid admitted to prostituting these juveniles through the utilization of backpage.com. Hidden within the motel room was a BB gun, which the juveniles believed to be an authentic firearm.
At sentencing, Mr. Reid will be subject to a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of five (5) years up to lifetime supervision. Mr. Reid will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to potential additional prosecution should he fail to register as required by Title 18, United States Code, Section 2250.
“The defendant seized upon the opportunity to exploit these vulnerable victims. All children deserve to be safe from predators like the defendant, and it is the duty of the law to protect them. These three victims are not alone, and my office will continue to vigilantly prosecute any and all who seek to gain from the abuse of children," said United States Attorney Michael J. Moore.
This case was a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julia C. Bowen.
For additional information please contact Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
