COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two women from South Carolina have admitted in federal court to being part of a human trafficking conspiracy.
Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, 24, and Rebecca Melanie Perry, 30, were involved in exploiting minors for commercial sex from December 2022 to August 2023.
Authorities say they worked with two others, Antonio Marquis Nicholson and Terrell Counts, to recruit and exploit young victims.
One of their victims, a runaway, was recruited by Nicholson and Perry at a hotel. The group transported her across state lines, advertised her for sex online, and arranged for customers to exploit her at hotels in the Columbia area.
Nicholson decided prices, handled the money, and controlled how much, if any, the victims received. Gary pretended to be a minor when chatting with customers, transported a victim to another city for exploitation, and handed over earnings to Nicholson.
Two other victims, recruited near a high school, were exploited on days they were not in school. The group used the internet to advertise the victims, communicate with customers, and collect payments.
During the operation, one victim was physically assaulted. The group also carried firearms and distributed drugs around the victims.
If convicted, Gary and Perry could face up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, mandatory registration as sex offenders, and lifetime supervision after serving their sentences. Both women have also agreed to pay restitution to the victims.