Two Charged With Sex Trafficking

A federal grand jury has indicted two people on charges they used the online service Craiglist to lure men to have sex with a 17-year-old girl. Prosecutors say 26-year-old Lawrence Edward Pruitt of Central Islip, N.Y., and 26-year-old Marvis Nichole Harris of Columbia, S.C. were indicted on charges involving sex trafficking of a minor. The pair made their initial appearance on Thursday before a federal magistrate. U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias says FBI agents and local police were investigating possible illegal activity involving underage girls recruited to work as prostitutes when they encountered the 17-year-old at an Atlanta-area hotel. Nahmias says the agents had seen pictures of the 17-year-old at a Website advertising erotic services and claiming she was 19, although the defendants knew her real age.

(Associated Press)