An Ohio man, identified as 41-year-old Leon Sims, has been sentenced to over three years in prison for coercing a homeless woman into prostitution on numerous occasions, including across state lines. Prosecutors have stated that Sims manipulated the vulnerable woman by initiating a romantic relationship with her and showering her with gifts, which are typically associated with genuine relationships. However, Sims then proceeded to sell her for money over several months, keeping the earnings for himself.

The Department of Justice announced in a press release that Sims was sentenced to 37 months in prison for engaging in interstate prostitution, a violation of the Mann Act. The case first came to the attention of law enforcement in December 2020 when the Boone County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky responded to an online advertisement for prostitution. Undercover deputies arranged to meet with a woman who had responded to the advertisement at a local Holiday Inn, where she revealed to the authorities that Sims had driven her to the hotel. According to prosecutors, the woman disclosed that Sims had been arranging meet-ups for her to engage in prostitution for several months.

Deputies discovered Sims sitting in a car outside the hotel, and the woman informed the police that he had been orchestrating her prostitution activities. Prosecutors revealed that Sims had been romantically involved with the woman since early 2020 and had given her gifts while she was struggling with homelessness. However, he later demanded repayment for the presents and coerced her into earning $1,000 a day through prostitution, threatening to deprive her of sleep and food if she failed to comply.

Prosecutors further stated that from October 2020 to January 2021, Sims arranged for the woman to travel across Ohio, Kentucky, and even California to meet clients for sex. When the woman resisted traveling to California for prostitution, Sims allegedly brandished a gun at her. Additionally, Sims was accused of pressuring the woman into having sex with him and using physical force against her.

The Department of Justice emphasized that Sims managed the woman's prostitution activities, communicated with clients through online advertisements, and kept the profits from the appointments. The investigation also revealed that Sims transported the woman from Kentucky to Ohio and California for the purpose of prostitution. Prosecutors argued that Sims employed fraud and coercion, including verbal threats, withholding basic necessities, and false promises, to force the woman's participation in prostitution.

During the sentencing, Sims' attorney acknowledged that his client had driven the woman across state lines for prostitution but denied any claims of forcing her into sex work. The attorney also highlighted that the woman had bailed Sims out of jail when he was initially arrested in December 2020. The attorney criticized the woman for not informing law enforcement about any dangerous or unwanted situations she had experienced during her brief acquaintance with Sims.

Following his arrest in December 2020, Sims relocated to California before moving to Las Vegas in 2022. However, authorities in Las Vegas discovered an active warrant for his arrest in Kentucky in January 2022 and took him into custody. The charges filed against Sims in Boone County, Kentucky, were dropped after he was federally indicted. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Sims will serve at least 85% of his sentence under federal law and will be monitored by authorities for three years after his release from prison.