A man who admitted to working as a “pimp” since at least 1994, was sentenced to spend the next 35 years behind bars for a multitude of convictions related to sex trafficking.
David Alan Quarles, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber of the Middle District of Florida to spend 35 years in federal prison for sex trafficking by force, threats, fraud, or coercion; importation of an alien for the purpose of prostitution; transportation of an individual in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution; and using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of prostitution.
According to court records, for multiple decades, Quarles recruited, transported, and forced young women to have sex with men in exchange for money all throughout the Middle District of Florida and the United States. Quarles used physical violence, and sexual, financial, and psychological abuse to force and coerce victims to engage in commercial sex.
Evidence at trial revealed that Quarles frequented strip clubs and bikini bars to target and recruit young, vulnerable women who were in difficult financial situations. Many of the victims lacked a stable home and had recently aged out of the foster care system.
Quarles promised the victims he would provide financial security, love, and a family, before he directed them to engage in prostitution, posted advertisements featuring the victims, and arranged for them to travel across the United States to work.
Quarles also imported non-United States citizens into the country for the purposes of prostitution.
Quarles required that victims send him money that they had earned or seek his his permission to spend funds on necessities. He used their earnings to rent large homes and purchase high-end luxury vehicles including a Range Rover and Porsche Panamera, among other things.
At trial and during sentencing, Quarles maintained a defense that he did not use force to coerce the victims to engage in commercial sex.
Quarles was found guilty by a jury on November 7. As part of his sentence, Quarles was also given 10 years of supervised release and is required to register as a sex offender.