MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 25-year-old St. Paul man faces serious charges in connection with a “sophisticated, ongoing criminal sex trafficking business” he allegedly operated, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
On Thursday in federal court, Dontre D’Sean McHenry was charged with felony counts of sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor.
According to the criminal complaint, McHenry exploited three minor females — ages 15, 16 and 17 — and made them engage in commercial sex acts by force, threats of force, fraud or coercion for his benefit.
McHenry was arrested after police officers responded to a Backpage.com advertisement thought to be that of a juvenile sex trafficking victim. The information led them to a Motel 6 in Roseville where he was found inside a hotel room with a 17-year-old girl.
“The allegations in the Complaint set forth a sophisticated, ongoing criminal sex trafficking business run by McHenry. The exploitation of minors for commercial sex will not be tolerated by this Office or our law enforcement partners,” United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger said.
If convicted, McHenry could face a potential minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
