A Memphis man, known as Jeremy Talbert and also by his aliases "J-Nasty" and "Jay Nastie," has been sentenced to nearly 18 and a half years in federal prison for the sex trafficking of a minor. This case marks a significant conclusion to a dark chapter that began in October 2020 and ended with Talbert's capture on December 17, 2020, when authorities discovered him with the 14-year-old victim at a New Orleans hotel during the execution of a search warrant, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
As per the documents presented in court, Talbert exploited the minor by transporting her from Memphis to New Orleans for the purpose of commercial sex acts. During this time, he had been informed by the victim's mother of her daughter's age and missing status, but rather than aiding in her safe return as he claimed, he proceeded to advertise and orchestrate the teen's foray into prostitution. He was convicted of Sex Trafficking of a Minor and was handed down a 220-month sentence on March 12 by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk, who also prescribed ten years of supervised release following imprisonment, a $47,000 restitution fee for the victim, and a $100 special assessment fee, the Justice Department disclosed.
Throughout the illicit operation, Talbert managed the commercial sex work of the victim, setting fees and overseeing the transactions while insisting she earn approximately $1,000 per day from such acts, the majority of which he kept. The evidence that sealed his fate included seized items like over $1,000 in cash, a firearm, and his phone, which implicated him in the trafficking abuse.
The conviction is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative with the zealous ambition to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006. It marshals a robust coalition of federal, state, and local resources to identify, locate, and prosecute those who prey on children and to rescue and rehabilitate victims. For further details about this initiative, individuals are encouraged to visit www.usdoj.gov/psc, and for internet safety education, resources are available at the same site under the "resources" tab.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson lauded the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans and Memphis Police Departments in bringing Talbert to justice. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit and Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit.
