North Texas man sentenced to life in federal prison for child sex trafficking

DALLAS — A North Texas man was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey to life in federal prison for felony child sex trafficking offenses.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas. This case was investigated by members of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, which included the Mesquite (Texas) Police Department, Department of Public Safety (Garland), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Child Protective Services.

Martavious Detrel Banks Keys, aka “Cheese” and “Matt,” 34, was convicted in February 2017, following a three-day jury trial, on two counts of child sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion. Keys had been in custody since his arrest in May 2016.

“The absolute horror that these two girls were subjected to is unimaginable and profoundly sad,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “The total depravity displayed by the shocking nature of this crime justifies this sentence.”

According to documents filed in his case, from about March 15 through April 18, 2015, Keys recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained or maintained two minor females, 15-year-old Jane Doe 1 and 14-year-old Jane Doe 2, causing them to engage in commercial sex acts. In addition, he used force, fraud or coercion to cause Jane Doe 1 to engage in commercial sex acts.

Specifically, Keys placed commercial sex ads on Backpage.com of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. As a result of the Backpage ads, the two girls engaged in numerous commercial sex acts at Keys’ direction. Keys negotiated with “clients” via text messages pretending to be the girls. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 worked out of Keys’ residence. In addition, Jane Doe 1 also saw commercial sex clients at various hotels in the Dallas area. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 engaged in numerous sex acts per day, sometimes up to 16 per day. Keys, who was unemployed, kept all of the proceeds from the commercial sex acts, purchasing various items with the money, including a Chevrolet Tahoe with aftermarket rims.

Keys sexually assaulted and physically assaulted both Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 during the ordeal. In addition, he threatened Jane Doe 1 with a gun and threatened both girls with harm if they did not continue to engage in commercial sex acts.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cara Foos Pierce and Myria Boehm, Northern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.