Earlier this week, two Tennessee men pleaded guilty to exploiting and prostituting women in the St. Louis area. Martavis Walker, 30, admitted transporting a woman for prostitution. Court documents show that in December 2023, Walker met the woman in Tennessee, forced her into prostitution in Memphis, and then transported her to St. Louis on January 12, where she was forced into sex work.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office release, Domaniko McCrary, 33, also from Memphis, tendered his guilty plea the following day for the same offense. Court details revealed that McCrary purchased bus tickets on April 16, 2023, for himself and the victim, traveling to the Eastern District of Missouri. Having arrived, he secured two hotel rooms where the victim was directed to perform commercial sex acts.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI led the investigation into Walker's case, while the Hazelwood and St. Louis County Police Departments worked together on McCrary's case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is handling the prosecution of both cases. Walker is scheduled for sentencing on March 12 and could face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. No sentencing date has been set for McCrary.
