Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Fort Smith man pleads guilty to sex trafficking
FAYETTEVILLE — A Fort Smith man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to sex trafficking a minor who was prostituted at motels.
Kenyon Roane, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of children.
About Nov.
13, a parent reported her
16- year- old daughter was a victim of sex traff icking. The girl said in an interview at the Benton County Child Advocacy Center she performed sex acts for money and her pimp was Roane. She knew him by his Facebook name Kordai Youngpayme Arnold.
She told investigators she met Roane in 2016 and began prostituting for him at a Motel 6 in Fayetteville. She said Roane also took her to motels in Fort Smith and Jonesboro.
Roane controlled all her finances and advertised for her clients through backpage.com and other Internet websites.
Roane put her up in a motel room, where a customer would contact her about which sex act and the cost. The customer then met the girl in the room.
Police recorded conversations between Roane and a client in which he admitted being a pimp. Roane also admitted knowing and traveling with the girl during an interview with police.
Roane will be sentenced at a later date. He faces 10 years to life in prison and fines of up to $250,000.