Three of four defendants charged with the sexual exploitation of children, the interstate transportation of minors for prostitution, and criminal conspiracy entered guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds, announced United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy. Mr. Murphy was joined in the announcement by Daniel D. Roberts, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Deric Willoughby, 41, of Toledo, Ohio, entered a guilty plea to criminal conspiracy and the interstate transportation of minors for prostitution. Willoughby also agreed to the forfeiture of his real and personal property. Brandy Shope, 19, and Jennifer Huskey, 25, also of Toledo, Ohio, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and interstate transportation of minors for prostitution.

"The sexual exploitation of minors is a horrific crime whenever it occurs, but especially when it involves forced prostitution -- as it did in this case, said United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy. “Reducing crimes of human trafficking is a key goal of my office and today's guilty pleas evidence our unceasing effort to stop this pernicious criminal activity."

At today’s plea hearing, defendants admitted that in May 2005, Deric Willoughby and Brandy Shope brought two minors, aged 14 and 15, to Willoughby’s residence in Toledo, Ohio and, along with Jennifer Huskey, agreed to prostitute the minors. Defendant’s Shope and Huskey instructed the minors that they would have to engage in commercial sexual acts for money, including sexual intercourse and oral sex, that they would be required to call Deric Willoughby “Daddy” and that they would have to respect and obey Willoughby in all things.

Between May 13, 2005 and May 23, 2005, defendants admitted they compelled the minors to engage in commercial sexual activity with several different adult males in the Toledo, Ohio area. Defendant Willoughby admitted he gave the two minors false identities, including false birth-dates, which the minors were instructed to use if stopped by law enforcement officials.

The defendants admitted that on approximately May 22-23, 2005, Deric Willoughby transported the minors and co-defendants Brandy Shope and Jennifer Huskey to a Sears parking lot in Toledo, Ohio where they met Richard Lamar Gordon, a trucker. Gordon transported the minors, Shope and Huskey to a truck stop in Dexter Michigan for the purpose of prostitution.

Defendant Huskey admitted that Gordon paid for sex with the 14-year-old minor. All three defendants admitted that all monies obtained through the acts of prostitution by the minors were turned over to defendant Willoughby. Under the terms of the plea agreements, Willoughby and Shope face up to 87 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, and Huskey faces up to 71 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencings are scheduled for December 6, 2006.

The investigation of this case has was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department. The case has been prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin.