Anthony D’Montrez Crawford, 29, and Kaytlynn Ann Crawford, also known as Alderman, 27, both of Eugene, Oregon, have been arrested and charged with several federal offenses related to sex trafficking. The charges include sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion; transportation for prostitution; persuading or coercing travel for prostitution; use of an interstate facility to induce or coerce a minor into prostitution; transportation of a minor for prostitution; and conspiracy.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Anthony Crawford forced individuals to engage in prostitution activities in the Eugene and Springfield areas. He is alleged to have advertised sexual services online, negotiated prices and services with customers, rented hotel rooms for these activities, and collected money from victims through intimidation, threats of violence and actual violence. Authorities say he also transported victims using rental cars to other cities—including Portland—to continue these activities.
Kaytlynn Alderman is accused of facilitating the operation by opening a car rental account used by Crawford, allowing hotel bills to be paid with her bank card, and receiving payments from customers through a CashApp account registered in her name.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Seattle rescued a minor victim who had been forced into prostitution not only in Seattle but also in Portland and the Eugene/Springfield area. Investigators also identified an adult victim subjected to similar conditions in Portland as well as Eugene/Springfield.
Both defendants appeared today before a federal court judge. Anthony Crawford was ordered detained pending further proceedings while Kaytlynn Alderman was released pending future court dates.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh is prosecuting the case.
"This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc," according to officials.
Anyone who may be a victim of human trafficking or has information about possible cases can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. The hotline operates nationwide around-the-clock with specialists available at all times. Tips can also be submitted via their website.
Authorities emphasize that "a criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
