MILWAUKEE-- Terrell Shankle, or "King Relly," of Milwaukee was sentenced to 25 years in prison and 5 years supervised release for sex trafficking, according to a news release from the US Department of Justice.
Shankle was found guilty in September of 2017 of five counts of sex trafficking a minor, sex trafficking a person using force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of conspiracy to transport a minor across state lines to engage in prostitution.
"One victim testified that Shankle beat her nearly every day for three years starting when she was 16-years-old. On one occasion, he struck her repeatedly in her face with his "pimp cane," and he beat her again for seeking medical treatment for the resulting injuries," said the DOJ.
Shankle would have some of his victims get tattoos of his name in order to signify his ownership of them, according to the DOJ.
"Victims of Shankle's sex trafficking testified that he recruited girls as young as 16 years old to engage in prostitution with false promises of money and a better life," said the DOJ.
Shankle would then use threats and violence to force them to engage in prostitution in Milwaukee and Chicago for his profit, according to the DOJ.
"The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to vindicate the rights of sex trafficking victims and to protect citizens from these violent and predatory offenses."
