Leonard Russell recruited two girls from Nebraska to engage in commercial sexual activity, including prostitution, and to perform at strip clubs. The two victims, ages 15 and 16, were runaways and were harbored by Russell. The victims testified that they met Russell in Omaha, Nebraska on August 20, 2007 after they ran away from a juvenile home located in Fremont, Nebraska. They were recruited to help at 19-year old prostitute, named Marcia Ryan. The victims were then transported to Davenport, Iowa, then Rockford, Illinois, and finally back to Denison, Iowa. They were forced to engage in prostitution and perform at strip clubs, one of which was Big Earl’s Key Club in Denison, Iowa. They were forced to give their earnings to Russell and Ryan to pay for their food, shelter, transportation, and clothes. One victim was with Russell for eight days, and the other for 10 days. Investigations showed that they had been advertised on the internet as prostitutes.
Location
United States · Denison, Iowa · 2008
(location generalized to protect survivors) Response & intervention
Russell was found guilty by a jury of two counts of human trafficking. Russell was also convicted of one count of ongoing criminal conduct and two counts of pandering. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. **update** Marcia Ryan was initially charged with ongoing criminal conduct, two counts of human trafficking and two counts of pandering. Under a plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to one count of pandering in March and was sentenced Thursday by a Crawford County District Court judge to 10 years in prison.
The police received an anonymous tip that caused them to find one of the victims at Big Earl’s. The other victim was told by Russell to travel by bus to Washington to meet with his cousin to learn how to solicit sex. When she arrived in Washington police removed her from the situation.
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.