PITTSBURGH - Two residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Interstate Transportation of a Minor for Purpose of Engaging in Unlawful Sexual Activity, Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking, and Sex Trafficking of a Child, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today. The indictment was brought following the creation of the U.S. Attorney’s new Project Safe Childhood Task Force that is focusing on protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse.

"The number of technology-facilitated sexual crimes against children continues to grow," stated U.S. Attorney Brady. "By establishing the United States Attorney’s Project Safe Childhood Task Force, with six experienced federal prosecutors dedicated to the protection of children, we are able to focus our resources on locating, apprehending and prosecuting pedophiles and predators who seek to exploit children."

"Without the professional and coordinated efforts of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Cranberry Police Department and the FBI, the juvenile victim would not have been rescued and her traffickers brought to justice. The sex trafficking of children in the Western District of Pennsylvania will not be tolerated," added U.S. Attorney Brady.

The three-count indictment, returned on June 5, named Oscar Carter, 34, and Shelby Summer Brown, 27, both of 1254 N. Cheyenne Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74106, as the defendants.

According to the indictment, onMarch 6, 2018, Carter and Brown knowingly and willfully transported Minor A, who had not attained the age of 18 years, from Ohio to Pennsylvania, with the intent that Minor A would engage in prostitution and other sexual activity for which a person could be charged with a criminal offense. Then, from March 6, 2018 to March 14, 2018, Carter and Brown knowingly entered into a conspiracy to recruit for sex trafficking a female minor who had not attained the age of 18 years. The indictment further alleges that from March 6, 2018 to March 14, 2018, Carter and Brown knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained and maintained by any means, in and affecting interstate commerce, a female minor under the age of 18 years, and did benefit financially or by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture engaged in commercial sexual acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact, and having had a reasonable opportunity to observe Minor A, that Minor A had not attained the age of 18 years, and that Minor A would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of $750,000, and a term of supervised release for any term of years not less than five, and up to life. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Carter and Brown are currently incarcerated at the Butler County Prison. The government intends to seek their continued detention pending trial.

Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cranberry Township Police, and the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.