Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Dominique Peeples, a 28-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to seventeen years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Peeples had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.
Court documents revealed that Peeples transported a 17-year-old female from Memphis to New Orleans, Jackson, and Houston for commercial sex acts. He was aware of her age and advertised her services online, keeping most of the earnings. The minor worked under his supervision until she escaped in January 2021. After her escape, Peeples posted a video on social media boasting about exploiting her.
U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance also sentenced Peeples to ten years of supervised release following his prison term and ordered him to pay $120,000 in restitution to the victim along with a $100 special assessment fee. He will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case is part of an investigation involving Jeremy Talbert and Maceo Roberts, who have also pleaded guilty to related crimes. In February 2025, Judge Susie Morgan sentenced Roberts to 22.5 years for conspiring to traffic minors and adults. In March 2025, Judge Lance Africk sentenced Talbert to eighteen years for trafficking a fourteen-year-old.
These cases fall under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation since May 2006.
Simpson commended the efforts of the FBI and police departments in New Orleans and Memphis for their work on this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Jordan Ginsberg are leading the prosecution.
