SAN ANTONIO – A federal jury convicted a 22-year-old San Antonio man Wednesday for his role in prostituting two teenage girls last year, according to U.S. attorneys.
Malcolm Deandre Copeland was convicted of two counts of sex trafficking of minors.
Recommended Videos
Evidence presented during the trial revealed Copeland and others were involved in a scheme to entice and encourage minors into engaging in sexual acts for money, authorities said.
Jurors found Copeland in August and September 2013 knowingly placed photos of two teenage girls on an Internet website that advertised prostitution services under the pretext of "escorts." Jurors also found Copeland took the teens to multiple locations in San Antonio, as well as Corpus Christi, to engage in commercial sex, according to U.S. attorneys.
Authorities said Copeland, who remains in federal custody, faces between 10 years and life in federal prison, when he is sentenced Dec. 4.
One of Copeland's co-defendants, 20-year-old Amber Doak, pleaded guilty in March to one count of sex trafficking of minors and is currently awaiting sentencing scheduled for Sept. 12. U.S. attorneys said she faces between 10 years and life in federal prison.
Two others allegedly involved in the sex trafficking ring -- 38-year-old Marcus Deshawn Wright and 41-year-old New Hampshire resident Raymond Valas -- await jury selection and trial scheduled for Aug. 18 and Nov. 17, respectively, before a U.S. Chief District Judge.
U.S. attorneys said Wright is charged with two counts of sex trafficking of minors and one count of production of child pornography. Valas is charged with one count of sex trafficking of a minor.