Five people from Montgomery, Prattville and Notasulga indicted for sex trafficking

Five people from Montgomery, Prattville and Notasulga face an eight-count indictment for sex trafficking and related offenses.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, 30-year-old Kimani Jones, 48-year-old Treymane Lambert and 27-year-old Aleecia Scott, all of Montgomery, used force, fraud and coercion to compel women to engage in commercial sex acts between August 2016 and November 2020.

The indictment says Jones also used force, fraud and coercion to compel two minors to engage in commercial sex acts during that period, and 37-year-old Joseph Keon Bowe of Notasulga used force, fraud and coercion to compel a minor to engage in commercial sex acts between August 2018 and March 2019.

In addition, the indictment charges Jones with transporting one minor and one woman across state lines for purposes of prostitution in November 2016 and January 2020.

A fifth defendant, 30-year-old Daryle Gardner of Prattville, is charged with transporting a woman for purposes of prostitution in January 2020.

If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including substantial prison terms, and mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony J. Patrone of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.

HSI, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery Police Department and Montgomery Attorney General’s Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Ratz for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888.

— Information from the U.S. Department of Justice