On November 21, 46-year-old Paul Carter of Milwaukee pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Wisconsin to eight counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
Carter also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit forced labor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
According to documents filed in court between 2001 and 2013, Carter used false promises of good earnings and a better life to recruit women and girls to dance at exotic dance clubs on Indian reservations in Northern Wisconsin.
On multiple occasions described by Carter in plea documents, he admitted to threatening victims with weapons, physically beating victims and forcing victims to engage in sexual intercourse with him.
He also admitted to branding at least one victim with the letter "P" to demonstrate his ownership.
"The repulsive crime of human trafficking offends the most basic standards of human decency and dignity," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division.
Gupta went on to say, "The civil Rights Division will vigorously and relentlessly prosecute those who prey upon, abuse and exploit vulnerable members of our society for their own financial benefit."
According to U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Carter preyed on women and children who found themselves in desperate situations. He says that many of these women were homeless, poor or had no one else to turn to.
"Carter used violence, fear, isolation and coercion to make the victims commit commercial sex acts for his financial benefit. The Department of Justice, working with the Federal Human Trafficking Task Force, has been dedicated to investigating and prosecuting human traffickers so that victims can be free from this modern-day slavery," Haanstad said.
Carter was charged in a superseding indictment returned on October 12, 2016. He faces a possible sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
As part of the plea agreement, Carter will also be ordered to pay restitution to each of the seven victims identified in the indictment.
The amount of restitution Carter will be ordered to pay each victim will be determined at his sentencing on March 15, 2017.
