DALLAS — Martavious Detrel Banks Keys, a/k/a “Cheese” and “Matt,” 34, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey to Life in federal prison for felony child sex trafficking offenses. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Keys was convicted in February 2017, following a three-day jury trial, on two counts of child sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion. Keys has been in custody since the time of his arrest in May 2016.

“The absolute horror that these two girls were subjected to is unimaginable and profoundly sad,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. “The total depravity displayed by the shocking nature of this crime justifies this sentence.”

According to documents filed in his case, from approximately March 15, 2015, through April 18, 2015, Keys recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained or maintained two minor females, 15-year-old Jane Doe 1 and 14-year-old Jane Doe 2, causing them to engage in commercial sex acts. In addition, he used force, fraud or coercion to cause Jane Doe 1 to engage in commercial sex acts.

Specifically, Keys placed commercial sex advertisements on Backpage.com for Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. As a result of the Backpage advertisements, the two minor females engaged in numerous commercial sex acts at Keys’ direction. Keys would negotiate with “clients” over text messages pretending to be the minor females. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 worked out of Keys’ residence. In addition, Jane Doe 1 also saw commercial sex clients at various hotels in the Dallas area. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 engaged in numerous sex acts a day, sometimes even up to sixteen per day. Keys, who was unemployed, kept all of the proceeds from the commercial sex acts; purchasing various items with the money, including a Chevrolet Tahoe with aftermarket rims.

Keys sexually assaulted and physically assaulted both Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 during the ordeal. In addition, he threatened Jane Doe 1 with a gun, and threatened both girls with harm if they did not continue to engage in commercial sex acts.

Members of the North Texas Trafficking Taskforce, including the Mesquite Police Department, Department of Public Safety (Garland), U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Child Protective Services investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cara Foos Pierce and Myria Boehm prosecuted the case.

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