PIMP PALOOZA! Richard Dane Small Charged with Sex Trafficking of a Child

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Richard Dane Small, age 31, of Hagerstown, Maryland, on April 12, 2016, on charges of transporting a minor to engage in sex, and sex trafficking of a minor.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith.

According to the indictment, and affidavit in support of the previously filed complaint, on June 22, 2015, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office received a tip concerning possible prostitution at a hotel room in Frederick.  During subsequent surveillance of the hotel, Small was seen leaving the hotel room with two girls and driving away.  Police stopped the vehicle in Frederick for an expired vehicle registration.  Small and the girls initially identified themselves using false names.  The girls were 15 and 17 years old.

The indictment alleges that in June 2015 Small traveled to Johnstown, Pennsylvania with the 15-year-old girl to pick up the 17-year-old girl, and transported the girls to hotels and other locations in Maryland.  Small recruited and enticed the girls to engage in prostitution for him.

According to the indictment, Small persuaded the 15-year-old girl to make herself available for prostitution by posting ads on a website. Small directed the 15-year-old girl to take calls from clients responding to the ads.  Small received the money that she made from prostituting. 

Small faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life  in prison followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release for both charges.  Small is currently detained.