A Washington, D.C. man is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in federal prison after a grand jury in Maryland indicted him on June 25, 2026, on charges that he trafficked two minors and transported children for commercial sex, according to prosecutors. The indictment identifies 43-year-old Lorenzo Turner and accuses the registered sex offender of carrying out the conduct in mid-2024. If convicted on all counts, Turner faces mandatory minimum sentences that add up to decades behind bars and could run to life.
Indictment details
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, Turner was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking a minor, two counts of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and one count of committing a felony involving a minor as a registered sex offender. Prosecutors announced the charges in Baltimore alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the Baltimore Police Department.
The indictment alleges that one minor was recruited and transported between May and July 2024, and that similar conduct involving a second minor continued into August 2024.
Allegations and reporting
Media coverage of the case notes that prosecutors allege Turner "recruited, enticed, harbored and transported" a minor for commercial sex, then engaged in comparable conduct with a second child the following month, according to reporting by Law Enforcement Today. The outlet reports that federal and local law enforcement partners helped build the investigation that led to the grand jury indictment.
Details identifying the minors are sealed in court filings, a standard practice meant to protect the privacy and safety of child victims.
Penalties and prosecution
Prosecutors say each sex trafficking count carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison and up to life, while each transportation count carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life. Because the alleged felony involved a child and was committed by a registered sex offender, the indictment also includes a separate 10-year term that must run consecutively, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The office says Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maryam Zhuravitsky and Reema Sood are prosecuting the case. Officials note the indictment is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative that brings together federal, state and local resources to investigate and prosecute child exploitation.
How to report concerns
Authorities are urging anyone with information about possible child exploitation or trafficking to contact law enforcement. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children operates a 24-hour CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org, where members of the public can report suspected child sexual exploitation and where investigators can access additional resources.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and local task forces often coordinate on these cases, and victim services are available to help children and families navigate the fallout. Advocates and service organizations can assist with counseling, emergency needs and support as cases proceed in federal court.
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