Woodbridge Man Regular Customer Of Girls In Sex Trafficking Ring

WOODBRIDGE, VA – A federal jury convicted a Woodbridge man Wednesday for sex trafficking two girls, ages 14 and 16. In court documents Steve Nowell, 64, is described as a frequent commercial sex customer of a prostitution ring led by Michael Gunn, who trafficked the two girls over the course of two years in the DMV area. Nowell was identified by the victims as a regular commercial sex customer who paid one or both of the girls for sex on at least 23 occasions, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

After a search warrant was executed at Nowell’s home, law enforcement found hidden cameras that secretly recorded at least one of the girls and other females in various stages of undress while at his residence for prostitution. Law enforcement also found numerous photographs of one of the girls posing nude in his bathtub and throughout his house, including in his kitchen, on a bear rug, and on exercise equipment.

Prosecutors say in a recorded interview Nowell admitted to paying for sex with one of the girls. He claimed he did not know her real age.

Gunn was convicted by a federal jury in September 2017, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in January 2018. Angel Gunn and Vanessa Dominguez, who assisted Michael Gunn in sex trafficking the minors, each pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 140 months and 120 months in prison, respectively, authorities said.

Nowell faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on Nov. 30. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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