Sex TraffickingArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking in Denison, Iowa (2008)

A sex trafficking case from 2008 in Denison, Iowa, United States.

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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?

What happened

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.

Response and 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.

Nearby cases

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Sex Trafficking2008

Denison, Iowa, United States, 2008

United States US

“Prosecutors said [the trafficker] who has used addresses in Sioux City and Omaha, Neb., recruited and harbored two Nebraska girls [in 2007] for commercial sexual activity, including prostitution and performing at strip clubs. They said the girls, ages 15 and 16, were runaways.” (Fox News) “[The trafficker] took the girls to Davenport and Rockford, IL, and back to Denison, IA, over several days, and had them engage in prostitution and perform at strip clubs, including Big Earl’s Key Club in Denison.” (Iowa Attorney General) “An anonymous tip led police to rescue one of the girls at Big Earl's [a strip club in Denison]. The other was put on a bus to Washington, D.C., to meet with Russell's cousin and learn to solicit sex. Police in Washington rescued her there.” “The girls testified that they engaged in prostitution and performed at strip clubs including Big Earl's Key Club in Denison. They said they had to give the money they earned to Russell and Ryan in exchange for food, shelter, transportation and clothing. The teens testified they were ashamed with what they were doing, but they felt they had nowhere else to go. One of the teens was with Russell for eight days, the other for 10 days, officials said. “[The suspect] was found guilty of two counts of human trafficking, two counts of pandering and a count of ongoing criminal conduct during a September trial in Crawford County. [He] was sentenced [December 22, 2008] in Crawford County District Court to 25 years on the ongoing criminal conduct charge, and 10 years on each of the other four charges — with all the sentences to be served concurrently. He was also fined $5,000.” (Fox News)

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

CSEC2011

Carter Lake, Iowa, United States, 2011

United States US

Richard Costanzo, 45, of Carter Lake, Iowa, was sentenced on November 4, 2011, to 96 months in prison by Chief United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon, in Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Costanzo previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to commit various prostitution offenses during 1997 to 2009; three counts of Using a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution; one count of Transportation with intent to promote prostitution; and two counts of Money laundering. Following a hearing on October 12 and 13, 2011, Judge Bataillon had found that Mr. Costanzo knowingly caused a minor to engage in prostitution. Evidence presented at that hearing also indicated that Mr. Costanzo had operated his escort business for over 10 years. Mr. Costanzo also pled guilty to witness tampering in a related case. He received a sentence of 96 months for that conviction, to run concurrently. Richard Costanzo is the President of Dream Girls, Inc. a Nebraska corporation. Theresa Costanzo, (the sister of Richard Costanzo), Janna Wasko, (Richard Costanzo’s ex-wife), and Michael Wasko, (the husband of Janna Wasko), are all alleged in an April 2010 indictment to have worked at the business in various capacities. The indictment alleges that Dream Girls, Inc., advertised itself under many different names and held itself out as an escort service but was a front for prostitution. The indictment also alleges at least one of the escorts who worked at the business was under 18 years of age.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

CSEC2011

Carter Lake, Iowa, United States, 2011

United States US

Janna Wasko, 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 1, 2011 by Chief United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon, in Omaha, Nebraska to a term of six months in the Bureau of Prisons and six months of home confinement. Ms. Wasko previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit various prostitution offenses during 1997 to 2009. Ms. Wasko cooperated with authorities in the prosecution. She testified at a sentencing hearing in October 2011 regarding one of her co-defendants, Richard Costanzo. Following that hearing, Judge Bataillon found that Mr. Costanzo had knowingly caused a minor to engage in prostitution. Mr. Costanzo was later sentenced to 96 months in prison.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016