3 men convicted in North Texas for roles in sex trafficking multiple underage girls

FORT WORTH, Texas — Following a four-day trial before, a federal jury last week convicted three men for their roles in a conspiracy to sex traffic underage girls.

U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas announced these convictions. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, and the Texas Police Departments of Fort Worth, Tyler and Arlington.

The jury convicted Pierre Lagrone, aka “P” or “Pedro,” 33, on one count of conspiracy to sex traffic children, four counts of sex trafficking children, and one count of possessing child pornography. Lagrone faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

Herman Sanders, aka “Pooh,” 29, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to sex traffic children, one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Sanders faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 35 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

Demarcus Davis, aka “Zigg,” 25, was convicted on one count of sex trafficking children. He faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 35 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

Lagrone and Davis are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor on July 23. A sentencing date for Sanders has not been set.

According to evidence presented at trial, Lagrone and Davis were violent pimps who recruited, controlled, and profited off underage female victims through commercial sex acts. Lagrone and Davis recruited and advertised underage female victims for commercial sex acts. The defendants communicated with potential clients, collected proceeds, and paid for motels rooms and supplies. Lagrone and Davis kept almost all, if not all, of the proceeds of the commercial sex acts, providing only food, shelter, and occasional clothing to the underage female victims. Sanders conspired with and assisted Lagrone in this sex trafficking.

Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl, Northern District of Texas, is in charge of the prosecution.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 16,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.