United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia G.F. Peterman, III announced Rickey Goodwin, age 43, of Hamilton, Georgia was sentenced Dec. 12, 2016 to 212 months imprisonment for transportation of a minor by the Honorable Clay D. Land, United States District Court Judge, in Columbus, Georgia. Mr. Goodwin pled guilty to Count Four of the indictment on Aug. 3, 2016.
On Sept. 21, 2014 a 16-year-old ran away from the home of her legal guardian in Alabama to Panama City Beach, FL to engage in prostitution with her biological mother. The teen was with Mr. Goodwin, a convicted felon on parole. A Facebook entry by Mr. Goodwin stated he was on his way to Birmingham “to pick up a lil care package." Several ads on Backpage.com and other sites commonly used for prostitution depicted the runaway. In October 2014, the Columbus Police Department was informed that Mr. Goodwin and the teen were believed to be in Columbus, Georgia, involved in prostitution. On Oct. 13, 2014, the Columbus Police Department traced the cell phone number on Backpage to Mr. Goodwin.
“The acts for which Mr. Goodwin stands convicted are truly loathsome," United States Attorney G.F. Peterman, III said. “Without question he deserves the full measure of the sentence imposed upon him."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
Questions concerning this case should be directed to 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
