Duane A. Evans, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
A Tennessee man, Charles Cunigan, has been sentenced to 270 months in prison for his involvement in a sex trafficking conspiracy. The sentencing took place on January 14, 2025, following Cunigan's conviction for conspiring to commit sex trafficking under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1594(c).
Court documents reveal that Cunigan and his girlfriend, Latesha Gardner, both aged 31, coerced a seventeen-year-old girl into engaging in commercial sex acts over a three-month period in New Orleans. The motive was to generate funds for Cunigan to purchase a vehicle. They advertised the minor online and used physical abuse and other coercive methods to ensure compliance. On one occasion, Cunigan pistol-whipped the victim. He kept all proceeds from her activities and imposed a daily earnings quota. Additionally, he monitored her phone's geolocation data and threatened her life if she attempted to escape.
U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced Cunigan not only to imprisonment but also to lifetime supervised release. He is required to pay $48,750 in restitution to the victim and register as a sex offender. A mandatory special assessment fee of $100 was also imposed.
Gardner received a sentence of 60 months imprisonment in September 2024 for her part in the conspiracy.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide since May 2006. It involves collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans along with Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Homeland Security Investigations alongside the Orlando Metropolitan Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation into this case. Prosecution efforts were led by Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni and Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher from the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
For more details about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
