COLUMBUS: United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Charles E. Peeler, announces that guilty pleas were entered on June 7, 2018, in front of United States District Judge Marc T. Treadwell by Curtis Hall, age 37, of East Dublin, Georgia, Lantesia Lanier, age 41, of Dublin, Georgia, and Jackie Fields, age 47, of Cochran, Georgia to offenses related to a human trafficking enterprise spearheaded by co-defendant Jessie Lee Hall, Jr. Fields and Lanier each entered a plea to one count of misprision of a felony for misleading law enforcement about their knowledge of the enterprise, while Curtis Hall entered a plea to a single count charging him with interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise for his role in the criminal endeavor.
Jessie Lee Hall, Jr., age 38, of Dublin, Georgia previously entered a guilty plea on May 9, 2018 in front of Judge Treadwell to one (1) count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, five (5) counts of transportation for illegal sexual activity, and one (1) count of inducement to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Jessie Lee Hall, Jr., acted as a pimp for the several victims known to law enforcement. The first victim of the conspiracy was encountered by law enforcement on June 12, 2016, at a hotel in Macon. The victim stated that Hall was her pimp and she met him through the internet. In May 2016, Mr. Hall convinced the victim to travel from Ohio and work as a prostitute for him in Georgia. The victim was forced by Hall to perform commercial sex acts in hotels throughout Central Georgia.
During the investigation, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office received information that Jessie Lee Hall, Jr., was trafficking other women for sex. A second victim confirmed that Jessie Lee Hall, Jr., was her pimp and that she had worked for him from approximately July, 2013, until February, 2016. Mr. Hall advertised her services on Backpage.com and transported her to hotels inside and outside Georgia for commercial sex acts.
A third victim was also identified and was required to perform commercial sex acts throughout central Georgia.
All three victims stated that a combination of threats of force, fraud, or coercion had been used by Mr. Hall to cause them to perform commercial sex acts. They additionally stated that defendants Curtis Hall, Lantesia Lanier, and Jackie Fields had knowledge of the operation and participated in it to varying degrees.
Curtis Hall is facing a maximum of 5 years imprisonment, while Fields and Lanier are facing a maximum 3 years prison sentence. All are subject to a maximum fine of $250,000.00.
“Human trafficking is a crime that literally trades in the bodies and souls of its victims. The investigation and prosecution of these crimes are among the highest priorities of the Department of Justice and of my office," said United States Attorney Peeler.
“The FBI and its law enforcement partners have made human trafficking a top priority, and this case is an example of our determination," said Murang Pak, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Human trafficking is an unspeakable crime against some of the most vulnerable in our society and we will continue to devote significant resources toward these reprehensible crimes."
Sentencing will be scheduled for late September or early October of 2018.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Bleckley County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for 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
