‘TRULY HORRIBLE’
FORMER CYS CASEWORKER IS ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING, PROMOTING PROSTITUTION
Candace Talley, 27, a former Delaware County Children and Youth Services case worker, has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses after soliciting one of her clients to join a prostitution ring in the Philadelphia area, according to a release from Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
MEDIA COURTHOUSE » A former Delaware County Children and Youth Services case worker has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses after soliciting one of her clients to join a prostitution ring in the Philadelphia area, according to a release from Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
“It is truly horrible, and beyond imagination, that someone who is responsible for (ensuring) the welfare of children would pressure their mother into acts of prostitution for her own personal enrichment, and with the promise of a favorable custody recommendation, as this defendant is charged with doing,” said Stollsteimer.
Candace Talley, 27, of Sicklerville, N.J., is charged with felony offenses of corrupt organizations, trafficking individuals and promoting prostitution, as well as misdemeanor offenses of official oppression and coerce/threaten of official act.
According to an affidavit of probable cause written by Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Detective Mark Bucci, Talley approached the 27-year-old victim in May 2017 and offered her an opportunity to make $1,000 per day while helping to get her children out of foster care.
Talley knew the woman had been involved in prostitution and drug use in the past because she was able to access various government records and reports, according to the affidavit.
Talley came to the victim’s home in May 2017 to discuss her children, the affidavit says. At that meeting, Talley allegedly explained that she was involved in a “prostitution enterprise” involving approximately 2,000 customers. Talley explained that she assists the business by enlisting women to work as prostitutes and driving them to and from jobs, according to the affidavit.
“(The victim) said Ms. Talley told her she could help her with her children’s situation, implying she could assist having her children removed from foster care,” according to the affidavit.
Talley also allegedly told the woman she would only drug test her when she knew that she was clean and that Talley would switch the sample if she did test “hot.”
Seeing an opportunity to make money and get her kids back, the victim agreed to work with Talley’s associates, according to the affidavit. Talley allegedly indicated she would get in touch with her friend who runs the business for the pimp and have the friend text the victim.
The woman met with Bucci and CID Sgt. Robin Clark in June 2017, according to the affidavit. The investigators reviewed texts the victim received indicating the pimp would keep 50 percent of their earnings and that Talley would take half of whatever was left as her cut.
Talley was taken into custody Thursday and arraigned before
Magisterial District Judge Phillip S. Turner Jr., who set bail at $25,000 unsecured with electronic home monitoring.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 10 before Turner. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Boggs, chief of the Special Victims Unit, is prosecuting. Talley is represented by New Jersey attorney Terrell Ammeir Ratliff, according to online court records. Ratliff could not be reached late Thursday for comment.