A Memphis man, Maceo Roberts, has been sentenced to 270 months in prison for his involvement in a sex trafficking conspiracy. The sentencing took place on February 12, 2025, under United States District Judge Susie Morgan. Roberts was charged with conspiring to commit sex trafficking as per Title 18, United States Code, Section 1594(c).

Court documents reveal that during the summer of 2020, Roberts instructed co-conspirators Dominique Peeples and Jeremy Talbert on operating as pimps. He "gave" Minor Victim 2 to Peeples after she had previously worked under his direction. This led to further exploitation of minors across the southern United States.

Roberts and his associates traveled through regions including New Orleans with multiple victims for commercial sex acts. During this period, Roberts taught Peeples and Talbert how to manage and advertise their operations while ensuring they retained all earnings.

In October 2020, Roberts took control over Minor Victim 3, enforcing long working hours and confiscating her earnings. To maintain control over the victims' behavior, he provided them with drugs and alcohol.

Roberts's activities continued into early 2021 when he severely beat Adult Victim 1 requiring hospitalization. After promising to return her home but instead taking her to Houston for further exploitation, both she and Minor Victim 2 managed an escape attempt before being pursued by Roberts back in Memphis.

In late January of that year, Roberts recruited another victim who suffered abuse until April 2022 when he was arrested following a violent incident that left her with shattered teeth.

Judge Morgan's ruling includes a consecutive sentence related to pending charges in Indiana alongside a fifteen-year supervised release post-imprisonment. Additionally, $666,000 restitution is mandated along with participation in the sex offender registration program.

Co-defendants Peeples and Talbert have pleaded guilty; their sentencing dates are set for March and April respectively under different judges.

This case falls within Project Safe Childhood’s remit—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation since May 2006—utilizing federal resources towards apprehending offenders while rescuing victims involved in such crimes.

Acknowledgment goes out from U.S Attorney’s Office towards various law enforcement agencies including FBI branches alongside police departments from New Orleans & Memphis assisting throughout investigations led by Assistant U.S Attorneys Maria Carboni & Jordan Ginsberg handling prosecutions respectively.