TN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT SEX TRAFFICKING – 3B Media News

A Memphis man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

According to court documents, from December 2021 to March 2022, Charles Cunigan, 31, and his girlfriend, Latesha Gardner, transported the victim, who was a minor throughout the conspiracy period, across state lines from Tennessee to Illinois, Louisiana, and Texas for the purpose of enticing her to engage in commercial sex acts. Cunigan advertised the victim on websites, kept the money the victim earned from commercial sex transactions, required the victim to earn a daily quota of commercial sex, and restricted the victim’s access to food. Cunigan also tracked the victim’s location using a cellphone app and told her he would find her and kill her if she ever tried to leave.

Cunigan resorted to violence to carry out his scheme. For example, if the victim did not comply with his demands, he would beat her, which he did when he punched and kicked the victim during an altercation in February 2022. On occasion, Cunigan also ordered Gardner to use physical force against the victim.

Cunigan is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24. If the court accepts the guilty plea, the government and Cunigan agreed that Cunigan would be sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison. Cunigan also agreed to pay $48,750 in restitution to the victim. As a result of his conviction, Cunigan must participate in the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Program upon his release.

Principal Deputy Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans made the announcement.

The New Orleans HSI investigated the case.

Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.