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Milford and Tiana Lewis, the former alleged "CEO's" of "Sinful Innocence" have been charged in U.S. District Court with several crimes in connection with a sex trafficking ring.

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An updated version of this story is now available at MassLive.

SPRINGFIELD — A married couple who allegedly "pimped out" at least a half-dozen women from various states will make arguments on Wednesday to be released from prison pending trial in U.S. District Court.

Milford and Tiana Lewis were charged on Dec. 17 with human trafficking, transportation for prostitution, inducement of prostitution and other crimes. A criminal complaint filed in connection with the case by a U.S. Homeland Security agent painted a disturbing picture of the abuse and intimidation of several prostitutes formerly employed by "Sinful Innocence," a business launched by the couple.

The Lewises recruited sex workers and clients through Craigslist and Backpage, according to the complaint.

Two witnesses told investigators they were asked to meet the Lewises, with respective street names of "Bandz" and "Innocence," at Tower Square in downtown Springfield to sign their prostitution contracts earlier this year.

"During the meeting, Milford and Tiana made it clear to the women that they would engage in prostitution and that they were to split the proceeds with Milford and Tiana," the complaint reads.

Witnesses said that at various times when they balked at the terms of their employment, they were threatened, beaten and, in one instance, a woman was ordered by Milford Lewis to stand in a tub of ice water as punishment.

In November, another woman encountered West Springfield police outside a hotel, where she reported she had been living with the couple, according to the complaint.

"'Female D' told the officers that she was being pimped out by a man and a woman on sex pages on the Internet," the complaint states. "Female D said the two had recruited her at a methadone clinic and that (the three of them) were living at a hotel and she was being paid to have sex with people."

The Lewises have been held without bail while their court-appointed attorneys build arguments for their release. Human trafficking convictions carry a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.