U.S. District Attorney for South Carolina Bryan Stirling announced that Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 34 is sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Investigators found Nicholson, along with co-defendants Terrell Counts, Rebecca Melanie Perry, and Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, engaged in a sex trafficking ring involving 16 and 17-year-old girls. Evidence found the four people confiscated the profits made from exploiting the victims.
“This is the behavior of a monster. Nicholson and his codefendants exploited these children in the most vulnerable way possible,” said Stirling. “I commend law enforcement for working together at the federal, state and local level to intervene and rescue these children, who are survivors of such heinous acts.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Columbia Police Department.
Those in need of help can contact the national human trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888
