Brother and Sister Accused of Sex Trafficking

A brother and sister pair have been arrested with a man from Ohio. The group has been charged with sex-trafficking after an investigation.



According to kcrg.com, an investigation discovered that 20-year-old Malik McKee and 23-year-old Shuntina McKee, both of Iowa City, took three minor girls from Iowa City to Chicago with intent of prostitution. They were arrested on the charges Monday.

An investigation on the brother and sister pair as well as the third individual began in April after the mother of the 14-year old called to report that her daughter was missing and possibly in Chicago. The girl left the room and called her mother to tell her that she was in a Chicago hotel being held against her will.

Federal authorities got involved after the report and launched the investigation. It was discovered that the group took pictures of the girls and put them on a prostitution website. The girls were listed as 18 years old on the site.

A report states that the three victims, two aged 16 and one just 14, were all convinced to join the group of adults with coercion, threats, and actual force. They were also forced to engage in sexual acts.

The girls told police that they were set up with individuals that came over to have sex with them for money. McKee received all of the money from the dates. They believed it was being placed in a checking account that they would receive access to when they turned 18. The girls were not allowed out of the hotel room after they were taken to Chicago.

Upon the arrest, Malik McKee admitted to much of what was discovered in the investigation and stated by the girls. The other suspect was 41-year-old Willie Woods. He was arrested Friday.

The group faces charges of conspiracy to transport minors across state lines to engage in prostitution. The charges are federal. The United States government plans to have all three arrested parties sent back to Chicago for trail. If found guilty, they could get ten years for each charge of sex-trafficking of minors.

McKee is also facing charges of failure to appear on a court date set for April 6. The hearing was for charges of possession of a controlled substance. Shuntina McKee has no criminal history in Iowa.
Please login to post.