2 plead guilty in Fort Worth federal court to child sex-trafficking

FORT WORTH, Texas – A second person pleaded guilty Wednesday to a superseding information charging conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor.

Deundrea R. Miller, 27, pleaded guilty June 6 to sex trafficking of a minor; co-defendant Brittanie S. Brattain, 22, pleaded guilty May 1 to the same offense.

This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other members of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, including: the Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas police departments; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. These guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means is scheduled to sentence Miller Nov. 12, and Brattain Oct. 15; both defendants remain in custody.

Prior to September 2012, Brattain had a relationship with Miller. In late September or early October 2012, Brattain and Miller met Jane Doe. They agreed to take pictures of Jane Doe to post ads for "dates" on Backpage, a classified advertising website, which would be used for commercial sex acts. Brattain and Miller used a cell phone to take the pictures and post the ads.

Some of the commercial sex acts involving Jane Doe occurred in motels in East Fort Worth. After the commercial sex acts, Jane Doe would give the money she received to Miller. Miller and Brattain harbored and maintained Jane Doe while they stayed in these motels.

In January 2013, Miller and Brattain rented a duplex in Fort Worth where commercial sex acts involving Jane Doe also occurred. Also in January 2013, Miller and Brattain posted "escort" ads involving Jane Doe. While Jane Doe stayed with Miller and Brattain, Miller and Brattain received financial benefit from her participation in commercial sex acts, all in reckless disregard that Jane Doe was under age 18.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem, Northern District of Texas, is in charge of the prosecution.