March 29, 2012 -- Updated 2052 GMT (0452 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Alleged gang members set to appear in federal court Friday in Alexandria, Virginia
- Charges against Underground Gangster Crips include underage sex trafficking, officials say
- Arrests follow those of six other gang members in the past year and a half, officials say
- Officials: At least 10 girls ages 16 to 18 were recruited, were threatened if they tried to leave
The defendants, most of
whom were arrested overnight, were scheduled to appear in federal court
Friday afternoon in Alexandria, Virginia, on charges that include
underage sex trafficking.
The alleged ringleader is
identified in court documents as Justin Strom, 26, of Lorton, Virginia,
a suburb of Washington. He is described as the Fairfax County,
Virginia, leader of the Underground Gangster Crips. The arrests of the
five alleged members of the gang follow six other arrests of members of
the gang in the past year and a half, officials said.
The investigation began
in September 2011, but an affidavit lists alleged crimes by the reputed
gang members dating back to 2006.
Officials from the U.S.
attorney's office, the Virginia attorney general's office and others say
Strom and his associates recruited high school girls to work for them
as prostitutes and vowed violence if they tried to leave.
Authorities identified at least 10 high school girls between 16 and 18 years of age who were recruited.
The amounts of money involved were generally small, with prostitutes often receiving $50 for performing sexual acts.
Authorities arrested Michael Jefferies, 21, of Woodbridge on Wednesday night.
He allegedly handled the
money. They arrested Strom and Henock Ghile, 23, of Springfield early
Thursday. Ghile allegedly transported the girls.
Donyel Dove, an alleged bodyguard and driver, was arrested on March 24 in Warren County on separate charges.
The fifth man,
Christopher Sylvia, 22, of Springfield, Virginia, was arrested on March 8
as a driver in the sex trafficking conspiracy.
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