Two men who transported prostitutes under 16 into Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, Montana and the Midwest have been given long federal prison terms.
During a hearing Friday, U.S. District Judge David Winder ordered Michael Sallis to serve 63 months behind bars. The judge gave Steven Laster 37 months in prison.Under federal laws, Sallis and Laster will have no possibility of parole.
The sentence for Sallis, 38, was enhanced because of his long criminal record and his organization and control of the young girls. Punishment for Laster, 36, was severe because he beat up one of the girls.
Prosecutor Richard Lambert said the age of the girls involved increased the penalties under federal sentencing guidelines. The girls turned in all their earnings to Sallis and Laster, who then bought them food, lodging and clothes.
The group, usually led by Sallis' green Cadillac, convoyed from city to city, spending just a few days before moving on, according to a 150-page FBI report.
After police busted the ring in June, some of the girls told authorities that Sallis recruited them with promises of drugs, alcohol and big money - then gave them extensive advice on how to spot undercover vice cops.
Sallis, an Arizonan, and Laster, of Chicago, pleaded guilty in August.
In Laster's case, he acknowledged beating a girl in Arizona with his fist and a broken bottle, giving her severe facial bruises.
Other than the Laster beating, the judge said there was no evidence that the girls working for Sallis and Laster were forced into providing sex for paying customers.
Neither Sallis nor Laster spoke in court Friday. Additionally, Sallis was fined $2,000 and Laster $1,000. A co-defendant, Antonio Willis, has not entered a plea.