A Fort Wayne man was sentenced on Monday for promotion of child sexual trafficking in Huntington along with an accomplice who was sentenced for promotion of prostitution.
21-year-old Eric V. Swopes, Jr. was sentenced to six years in prison and three years on probation for a Level 3 felony charge of promotion of sexual trafficking.
22-year-old Daquan Miller was sentenced to one year on probation with 60 days of the sentence to be served on electronic monitoring through community corrections.
Swopes pleaded guilty on Nov. 18 for the charge of promotion of child sexual trafficking and Miller pleaded guilty for promotion of prostitution on Nov. 25.
Swopes was arrested on Aug. 16 at the Super 8 Motel in Huntington after an undercover detective investigated an online ad during a human sex trafficking recovery operation.
An ad was posted on a site known to allow posts for sexual acts in exchange for U.S. currency. A detective with Indiana State Police worked in cooperation with the Huntington Police Department for the operation, according to reports.
The detective sent a text message in reply to the ad and was given instructions to meet up at the Super 8 motel, police said. According to a probable cause affidavit, the person sending the messages asked if the detective was a police officer.
A juvenile, who appeared to be the person pictured in the online post, arrived at the motel and met with an undercover detective, according to police reports.
The detective was able to verify the juvenile was underage and was sent in regards to the trafficking ad, according to the report.
Daquan Miller, who transported Swopes and the victim to the meetup, was also arrested on Aug. 16 on a Level 5 Felony charge for promoting prostitution, according to police reports.
Swopes had an expired registration and contacted Miller to drive himself and the victim to the meetups, according to the affidavit. Swopes denied Miller had any part in the prostitution, but a text message sent to Miller said Swopes and the victim had set up a “play” and needed a ride.
During an interview at the Huntington Police Department, the victim stated Swopes had created the online account on his personal cell phone three days prior to the incident, police said.
Swopes reportedly posted ads and communicated with people interested in sex in exchange for U.S. currency through Facebook messenger.
Miller was aware the victim was going to the Super 8 motel to engage in sexual acts when he agreed to transport the two, according to the report.
Swopes was sentenced on Monday, Dec. 16 and Miller was sentenced on Nov. 25.