Omaha Resident Sentenced for Prostituting Minor

United States Attorney Joe W. Stecher and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release: The Honorable Joseph F. Bataillon, Chief United States District Judge, sentenced Amar Henderson to 144 months' imprisonment following his conviction for two counts of transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in prostitution. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Henderson was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a $200 special assessment.

Henderson came to the attention of law enforcement when a 17-year-old prostitute was arrested in Council Bluffs. She reported to law enforcement that her pimp was Amar Henderson. Henderson told her, when she was 16, that she could earn easy money by prostituting. She told police that she would advertise herself, at the request of Henderson, on the Internet as an “escort”. She would then meet clients in Omaha and Council Bluffs and perform sex acts for money. The money that she earned would be turned over to Henderson. She also was physically abused by Henderson. On several occasions she and Henderson would travel to Florida on Southwest airlines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. She engaged in sexual intercourse with Henderson both in Omaha and in Florida. The prostitute stated that on one occasion in November, 2006 she performed her first act of prostitution with Devon Smith in Iowa. She stated that she and Smith were driven from Omaha to Iowa by Henderson’s step father, Charles Jones.

During the investigation, another underage prostitute who worked for Henderson was discovered. She had begun working for Henderson when she was 13 years old. She was also transported across state lines for the purposes of prostitution and had a sexual relationship with Henderson.

Once Henderson was indicted and detained, he placed several phone calls to Devon Smith where he instructed her to destroy all evidence of prostitution in the home. Ms. Smith complied with his request.

Name of Defendant: Amar Henderson
AKA:
Age: 28
City of residence: Omaha, Nebraska

Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty: Transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in prostitution (10 yrs.-life imprisonment, $250,000 fine, at least a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment).

Specific Location of Alleged Crime: Omaha, Nebraska; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Florida
Location of Arrest: Omaha, Nebraska
Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug: N/A
Others Charged in Same Scheme: Devon Demia Smith and Charles Jones

Relevant Dates:
Date of Alleged Crime: Between 04/16/07 and 10/31/08
Federal Arrest Date: 12/19/08
Date Complaint Issued: N/A
Indictment Returned Date: 12/17/08; Superseding Indictment 01/22/09
Initial Appearance Date: 12/19/08; Superseding Indictment 02/03/09
Plea or Trial and Date(s): 05/15/09
Sentencing Date: 07/23/09
Next Court Hearing Type and Date: N/A

Assigned Magistrate Judge: Thomas D. Thalken

Held without Bond, or Released from Custody: Held without Bond

In Continuous Custody Since: 12/19/08

Assigned District Court Judge: Joseph F. Bataillon

Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of THIS Release: SLD

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