09.02.10
St Louis Adult Entertainment: ST. LOUIS COUNTY > Woman admits prostituting runaway
Latasha Jewell McFarland, 27, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal prostitution-related charge, admitting she persuaded a 13-year-old runaway to go into prostitution.
McFarland, of St. Louis County, told the girl last summer that she could earn $100 for each sex act, Assistant U.S. Attorney Noelle Collins said in court.
McFarland posted pictures of the teen online, bought condoms, arranged the meetings and drove the teen to hotels along Interstate 270, Collins said, taking half the proceeds.
McFarland also encouraged the girl to participate in parties where men would pay to have sex with multiple women, Collins said.
McFarland, who broke down in tears during and after the brief court hearing, pleaded guilty of interstate commerce to promote prostitution, and faces roughly five years in prison when sentenced Dec. 1.
Asked after the hearing whether the teen’s customers could face charges, Collins said that, in general, the FBI tries to identify and pursue customers who had sex with minors.