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from www.palmbeachpost.com – A pimp known as “Shagg Dog” and one of his prostitutes are facing federal charges after West Palm Beach Police found a reported-missing teenage girl in a hotel room where she was paid to have sex with men.

Rashad Emon Clark, 33, and Mandi Lynn Bowman [pictured], 22, who both lived in West Palm Beach previously, are charged with sex trafficking of children, inducing a minor to engage in commercial sex act, and conspiring to indue a minor to engage in commercial sex act, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.

They both face up to life in prison.

The West Palm Beach Police investigation was prompted by the 14 or 15-year-old girl’s step-father who reported her missing on Feb. 2.

The step-father told police he believed she may be involved in prostitution, according to the complaint.

Officers searched online classified advertisements for escort and prostitution and found a girl who appeared to be the missing juvenile on Backpage.com.

While law enforcement in South Florida has worked to keep prostitutes off the streets, escort-based services have increased by using the Internet and telephone.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation agent described this in the complaint as an “underground movement,” and said a pimp in control of just one prostitute can make up to $1,000 a day.

In this West Palm Beach case, officers acting as “Johns” called the cell phone number listed on Backpage.com to reach the juvenile.

They planned to meet at the Days Inn at 2300 45th Street in West Palm Beach, where she was staying, according to the complaint.

The undercover officer met the juvenile in the hotel’s parking lot and told her why he was there.

The teenager confirmed her identity and brought the officer into Room 221 where she was staying with Clark and Bowman, the complaint says.

The teen told the officer she was paid for sexual acts that occurred in the room before the officer arrived.

In the room was luggage, a black duffle bag, a black baseball cap, a laptop computer, and a used condom.

The girl told officers she was approached by Clark at a local convenience store. She later called him and discussed prostitution activities.

The next day Clark picked the teen up and was brought to the Days Inn. Clark and the juvenile had sex and she was paid $40, the complaint says.

Clark then told the teen about prostitution fees–– $150 for a half hour of sex and $250 for an hour––and what percentage the teen would be able to keep.

She was told “she had to choose money or friends,” and was given condoms and lubricant.

FBI agents interviewed Bowman who confirmed she sells herself for sex.

She told agents that after the juvenile met Shagg Dog, Bowman was asked to leave the hotel room so the two could have sex. She didn’t want to leave because it was early in the morning, the complaint says, so she stayed in the hotel room and covered her head with bed sheets, according to the complaint.

Bowman admitted to agents that she took pictures of the juvenile and posted them online and she taught the juvenile how to be a prostitute and how to answer calls and negotiate prices.

from www.sunsentinel.com – WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A man and a woman face up to life imprisonment on charges of sex-trafficking a runaway minor, after quick work by West Palm Beach police, who found the young girl offering prostitution services at a hotel.

The investigation began Thursday, after the girl’s stepfather reported her missing and possibly engaged in prostitution, according to a federal arrest affidavit filed Monday.

The girl had disappeared from home a few days before, and the man accused of sex trafficking found her at a convenience store, gave her his phone number then lured her into the world of prostitution, the affidavit says.

After being contacted by the stepfather, West Palm Beach police searched online escort ads on backpage.com and found what appeared to be a listing for the missing girl, who was born in 1997, making her either 14 or 15 years old, according to the affidavit.

An undercover officer posing as a “john” called the number in the ad on Thursday and spoke to the girl, who told him to meet her at the Days Inn on 45th Street, near Interstate 95. The officers met the girl in the parking lot and explained their investigation.

That’s when the girl told officers how she met her “pimp” — Rashad Emon Clark, 33, and one of his prostitutes, Mandi Lynn Bowman, 22 — the affidavit says. Both Clark, who goes by the street name “Shagg Dog,” and Bowman have listed past addresses in West Palm Beach, records show.

South Florida is considered by law enforcement officials to be a hot spot for sex trafficking because of its international airports and ports, and its tourism-based economy. No single agency keeps track of the number of girls and women who end up being trafficked, but it is estimated to be a $32 billion business nationally.

During the girl’s first meeting with Clark at the convenience store, “Clark discussed with the juvenile prostitution activities at that time and had two adult prostitutes in the vehicle with him. The juvenile contacted Clark by cellular phone the following day, and Clark picked up the juvenile and drove her to the Days Inn,” the affidavit says.

Then Clark had sex with the girl, and paid her $40, according to the affidavit. He then explained how much money she could make for various sex acts — $250 an hour or more — and how much of that he would keep.

“Clark also advised the juvenile victim that she had to choose money or friends,” the affidavit says. Then Clark dropped her off at another location.

The following day, Thursday, Clark brought the girl to the hotel, had sex with her and supplied her with condoms, the affidavit says. Clark told Bowman to teach the girl the ways of a prostitute.

“Bowman taught the juvenile how to set up and schedule appointments, and how to negotiate prices with johns,” the affidavit says.

The girl had sex with one man, and another man performed a sex act in her presence, before police found her, according to the affidavit.

Clark and Bowman face federal charges that carry hefty prison terms. Each is charged with sex trafficking a child, punishable by up to 40 years in prison, and enticing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, punishable by a minimum 10 years in prison and up to life.