An Ottumwa man will spend four decades in federal prison for his role in a sex trafficking case.
This past April 32-year-old Darnell Jones pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion of two victims, sex trafficking of one child, enticement and attempted enticement of two minors, and using the internet to facilitate prostitution.
According to court documents, Jones victimized at least five individuals—two children and three adults—throughout parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, including in the areas of Ottumwa, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Chicago. Jones trafficked one adult and one child.
Authorities say Jones used various methods to coerce his victims to have sex with him or engage in sex acts in exchange for money. Jones physically assaulted, harassed, and threatened his victims. He would also act as the victims’ boyfriend and tell them to commit various sex acts for money to demonstrate loyalty.
Jones also admitted to threatening his victims with a knife, hitting one with a brick, and choking or strangling them to the point where they lost consciousness.
Additionally, Jones sexually assaulted one victim and attempted to sexually assault another. Jones drove his victims to locations where they would have sex for money and he used a website to advertise the adult victims.
Jones pressured and attempted to coerce two female juveniles, one as young as 14, to engage in prostitution and illicit conduct with him.
On September 6, Jones was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.
