Recidivist Sex Offender Charged in Connection With Sex-Trafficking Minors

Baltimore, Maryland - A recidivist sex offender faces indictment, today, for committing sex-trafficking crimes against two minor victims.

Lorenzo Turner, 43, of Washington D.C., is charged with two counts of sex trafficking a minor; two counts of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and commission of a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Maryland, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

According to the indictment, beginning in May 2024, and continuing through July 2024, Turner recruited, enticed, harbored, and transported Minor Victim 1, who was under the age of 18 years, to engage in commercial sex acts. The indictment further alleges that beginning in July 2024, and continuing through August 2024, Turner sex trafficked Minor Victim 2, who was also under the age of 18 years.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Turner faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison for each count of sex trafficking a minor through force, fraud, or coercion; a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life for each count of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and a mandatory 10 years consecutive to any other sentence for the commission of a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI and BPD for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maryam Zhuravitsky and Reema Sood who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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