Couple Indicted for Sex-Trafficking Juvenile from Buckhead Home

A federal grand jury indicted a couple on charges of sex trafficking a juvenile and conspiring to do the same, running the operation from a Buckhead home.

“These defendants preyed on a young girl in need requiring her to have sex with men if she wanted to keep a roof over her head,” stated U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Trafficking children is appalling and unacceptable.  With the help of our partners in the community, we will press on with efforts to reach those who are being exploited, and prosecute those who choose to engage in this inhumane practice.”

According to Yates, Steven E. Thompson, 42,  and Tierra Michelle Waters, 30, offered a 17-year-old a place to stay in Thompson's Buckhead condominium.

However, after the girl moved in to the home, she was told that would need to pay money for rent and engage in prostitution. The couple would give the teen marijuana before she engaged in sex acts for money.

The couple advertised sex with the girl on Backpage.com either at the condominium or at a place that the criminal paying for sex chose.

Some advertisements falsely listed the juvenile as “Sasha” age 19, while other advertisements showed both Waters and the juvenile, under the name “Naomi”, age 20, requesting a “donation” of $150 an hour.

The indictment charges one substantive count of sex trafficking of a juvenile by force, fraud or coercion and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Thompson is scheduled for a bond hearing on May 21 at 11 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker. Waters is scheduled for arraignment on May 31 at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Department of Homeland Security and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Susan Coppedge and Leslie Abrams are prosecuting the case.