Gregory A. White, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a Cleveland, Ohio man was sentenced to a 87-month term of imprisonment after being convicted of federal charges relating to prostitution of minors. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan after Robert O. Watson, Sr., age 46, of 8513 Madison Avenue, Apt. 1, Cleveland, Ohio, pled guilty to interstate transportation of minors for purposes of prostitution. Watson also pled guilty to a second charge alleging interstate transportation of adult women for prostitution.

The case arose out of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Cleveland Police Department. The investigation was initiated after agents learned that Watson had arranged for two sixteen year-old girls and three adult women to fly with Watson from Cleveland to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The airline tickets were obtained through the fraudulent use of a credit card. According to the two minors, they agreed to travel with Watson to Florida believing that the trip was a vacation. Shortly after arriving in Florida, however, Watson insisted that the girls earn their way back to Cleveland by engaging in acts of prostitution. The two girls along with an adult woman were taken to Miami, Florida, and then to Orlando, Florida, where all three served as Watson’s prostitutes. According to the minors, Watson set prices for their services and received all of the proceeds from the services they rendered. When the minors failed to reach a daily quota Watson had set, Watson would subject them to physical abuse and/or displays of anger. The minors worked as prostitutes for Watson for approximately two weeks before they were able to make arrangements for their return to Ohio, without the assistance of Watson.

The case also resulted in the imposition of a 15-month term of imprisonment for Watson’s nephew, Anthony Willis, age 26, a Florida resident. According to court records, Willis was not involved with the two minors but pled guilty to conspiring with Watson to transport adult women for purposes of prostitution.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Schmitz.