Norfolk, Va. – Three people from New York have been indicted on multiple charges for bringing two women from New York to Virginia Beach to sell as ‘sex slaves.’
20-year-old Prince Lee, 21-year-old Henry Olson and 21-year-old Arielle Pierre have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy, transportation for prostitution and coercion and enticement.
They face a maximum penalty of 20 years if convicted.
According to the indictment, on May 15, Prince Lee and a young woman posted an ad on craigslist.com in Hampton Roads offering to sell the woman as a “sex slave” for $10,000.
The Virginia Beach Police Department was monitoring the site and responded to the ad.
An undercover officer spoke with Prince Lee and the young woman and they agreed to sell three women for approximately $225,000. They agreed to meet in Virginia Beach on June 1st.
The indictment says Prince Lee and Henry Olson recruited Jane Doe 1, a 30 year-old also from New York, and told the woman she would receive $10K just to hang out with a friend of Prince Lee’s in Virginia. After much persuasion, she agreed.
Arielle Pierre and Prince Lee recruited Jane Doe 2 also to spend a few hours with the man. Neither of the women was told that they were being “sold” to the man.
Lee, Olson, Pierre and two others drove with the Jane Does from New York and arrived in Virginia Beach on the morning of June 1. Under observation by the police, Lee and Pierre were seen yelling at and grabbing the Jane Doe 2, trying to force the woman to remain and go to the “date.”
Jane Doe 2 eventually ran into a nearby hotel, where employees hid her in the back room. Prince Lee also threatened to desert Jane Doe 1 in Virginia and throw away her car keys if she did not go forward with the plan. In the afternoon of June 1, the undercover officer arrived for the “date” and all defendants were arrested.
The case was investigated by the Virginia Beach Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Yusi is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
