DALLAS— Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey, a federal jury has convicted Martavious Detrel Banks Keys, 33, on felony child sex trafficking offenses, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Specifically, the jury convicted Keys, a/k/a “Cheese” and “Matt,” on two counts of child sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion. Keys faces a statutory penalty of not less than 15 years and up to life in federal prison, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He must also register as a lifetime sex offender. Sentencing is set for June 5, 2017 before Judge Godbey.
According to documents filed in his case, from approximately March 15, 2015, through April 18, 2015, Keys recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained or maintained two minor females, 15-year-old Jane Doe 1 and 14-year-old Jane Doe 2, causing them to engage in commercial sex acts. In addition, he used force, fraud or coercion to cause Jane Doe 1 to engage in commercial sex acts.
Specifically, Keys placed commercial sex advertisements on Backpage.com for Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. As a result of the Backpage advertisements, the two minor females engaged in numerous commercial sex acts at Keys’ direction. Keys would negotiate with “clients” over text messages pretending to be the minor females. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 worked out of Keys’ residence. In addition, Jane Doe 1 also saw commercial sex clients at various hotels in the Dallas area. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 engaged in numerous sex acts a day, sometimes even up to sixteen per day. Keys, who was unemployed, kept all of the proceeds from the commercial sex acts; purchasing various items with the money, including a Chevrolet Tahoe with aftermarket rims.
Keys sexually assaulted and physically assaulted both Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 during the ordeal. In addition, he threatened Jane Doe 1 with a gun, and threatened both girls with harm if they did not continue to engage in commercial sex acts.
Members of the North Texas Trafficking Taskforce, including the Mesquite Police Department, Department of Public Safety (Garland), Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Child Protective Services investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cara Foos Pierce and Myria Boehm prosecuted the case.
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