Sex Trafficker Gets Decades in Prison for Forcing Girl into Prostitution in Romeoville

CHICAGO, IL — A Milwaukee man was sentenced today to more than 21 years in federal prison for transporting an underage girl to Romeoville from Wisconsin to engage in prostitution.

Dajuan Key, 31, brought the girl to Romeoville from Madison, Wisc., in September 2013, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. At the time, the victim was 15 years old. Once in the area, Key forced the girl to engage in commercial sex acts, with Key keeping all of the money.

A jury in February convicted Key on one count of knowingly transporting a minor from Wisconsin to Illinois to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall imposed the 262-month sentence in federal court in Chicago.

“All of the defendant’s reprehensible conduct in this case evidences a person driven by greed, willing to engage in manipulation, deception, and psychological abuse, solely for his own personal profit,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Sawyer argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum, according to the release.

Evidence at Key’s trial revealed that Key encountered a minor online and traveled to Madison to pick her up and bring her to southwest suburban Romeoville. Key took photographs of the girl, provided her with lingerie to wear, and posted advertisements on the website Backpage.com. Key rented multiple hotel rooms that were used for encounters with individuals who responded to the advertisements, according to the release. Key then collected all of the money earned by the minor victim.

The victim was rescued by officers of the Romeoville Police Department on Sept. 10, 2013, and Key was arrested.