On Wednesday, Chelse Gee, a 19-year-old woman from Houston, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child under the age of 14.
According to court documents, Gee was involved in a conspiracy with another adult, Randy Lewis, to recruit and bring a 13-year-old girl from Houston to New Orleans in June 2021 for the purpose of commercial sex acts.
Gee had met Lewis when she was around 16 years old, and he recruited her to engage in commercial sex acts under his direction, which she complied with. Together, they met the victim in Houston, with Gee recruiting the victim to perform commercial sex acts under Lewis’s direction and introduced her to Lewis.
Lewis and Gee gave the 13-year-old victim instruction and guidance on how to successfully perform commercial sex activities, including how to behave, what to wear, how to identify and avoid law enforcement, and how to solicit customers.
The victim agreed, and Lewis arranged for him, Gee, and the victim to travel to New Orleans on a Greyhound bus for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts.
Between June 22, 2021, and June 24, 2021, Gee and the victim performed multiple commercial sex acts in the New Orleans area, with Lewis requiring the victim to turn over most, if not all, of the money she earned from these acts.
Additionally, Gee and Lewis would give the victim illicit and mood-altering drugs, including marijuana, to numb her senses, control her behavior, and/ or to encourage her to engage in commercial sex acts.
The victim was recovered at a hotel in Terrytown, Louisiana, on June 24, 2021. Lewis pleaded guilty to his role in trafficking the victim in November 2022 and is scheduled to be sentenced in June 2022.
Gee now faces a maximum of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, three years of supervised release after imprisonment, may also be required to register as a sex offender, and make restitution payments to the victim. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 14, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance and reporting suspected cases of human trafficking.
It is crucial to be aware of the signs of human trafficking, which can include individuals who appear fearful or lack control of their own identification documents, appear to be accompanied by someone who speaks for them, or individuals who are not free to leave situations.
If you suspect someone may be a victim of human trafficking, report it to local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.