KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A 38-year-old man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to taking a 16-year-old girl across state lines for prostitution.
Michael Cason, of Murrieta, California, faces 10 years in federal prison without parole under the plea deal in connection to a Dec. 13, 2017 indictment.
On Nov. 18, 2017, Kansas City, Missouri, police were called to a local hotel on reports that a 16-year-old missing from Texas may have been there. The victim had posted her location on social media.
While officers were on the scene, Cason's co-defendant, Shlebi Chaddick, showed up with the victim.
Inside their room, officers saw signs of prostitution and a check of the victim's phone revealed several text messages asking when she would be available.
The victim told police Cason and Chaddick took her from Texas to Missouri for prostitution, and that she'd engaged in prostitution with several people in Kansas City.
Investigators later found live advertisements with the victim's phone number on Backpage and CallsEscort.
Chaddick pleaded guilty to making false statements to law enforcement earlier in 2019.
KCPD and the FBI conducted the investigation.
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