Lewes residents indicted in sex-trafficking case
A federal grand jury in the District of Delaware returned an indictment charging two Lewes residents with sex trafficking, labor trafficking and related charges.
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Lewes residents indicted in sex-trafficking case
By WILMINGTON — A federal grand jury in the District of Delaware returned an indictment charging two Lewes residents with sex trafficking, labor trafficking and related charges.
The defendants are charged with aiding and abetting one another in committing sex trafficking and forced labor trafficking against 13 alleged victims, a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release said Thursday.
The indictment alleges that, from 2014-20, Clifton H. Gibbs, 66, and Brooke D. Waters, 44, recruited, harbored, transported and compelled nine individuals to engage in commercial sex acts under the threat of serious harm if they did not, the office said.
Further, the U.S. attorney alleges that, from 2016-20, Mr. Gibbs and Ms. Waters obtained the labor and services of six individuals under the threat of serious harm if they did not comply.
The two suspects also allegedly transported three people across state lines for the purpose of criminal sexual activity, the release said.
The sex-trafficking charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. The forced-labor counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the interstate transportation charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.
