United States of America v. Aaron Kern

St. George, Utah, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion in violation of 18 U.S.C.1591, and transportation for prostitution purposes in violation of 18 U.S.C.2421.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Aaron Kern manipulated, intimidated and threatened his victim in an unrelenting effort to sex traffic her. His brazen efforts were recorded in jail calls, tablet visits, and text messaging. Over the course of a year, Kern contacted the victim over 1,800 times by phone and tablet. Kern developed a relationship with the victim and attempted to recruit the victim to prostitution and collect the proceeds. Kern claimed that the victim owed him money from all of the phone calls and tablet visits (he estimated it to be $10,000) and that she needed to prostitute herself to reimburse him. Kern planned to traffic the victim in Utah and, upon his release, in Houston, Texas. When the victim expressed any hesitation, Kern threatened her and members of her family with violence. On one occasion he told the victim “You are going to have a lot of days where you are drinking through a straw.”

During the investigation, law enforcement found an online prostitution advertisement that Kern dictated and ordered the victim to place. In Kern’s jail cell, investigators also found a handwritten contract that he wanted the victim to sign as well as handwritten notes and journal entries describing how he needed to break the victim down.

Defendant placed in BOP custody for a term of 120 months. Upon release, defendant placed on supervised release for a term of Life. Standard and special conditions of supervision imposed. $100.00 Special Assessment imposed and due immediately. No fine imposed.