Press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office:
SeaTac Man Used Force and Coercion Pimping Young Women and Underage Girls

A SeaTac, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors and defense will recommend a sentence of 15 years in prison when RONNIE LEON TRAMBLE, 29, is sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on March 16, 2012.

According to the plea agreement, TRAMBLE coerced or forced more than five different women to work for him as prostitutes. Some of these victims were under the age of 18. The plea agreement details how TRAMBLE recruited one victim, and forced her to work as a prostitute with threats and violence. TRAMBLE repeatedly beat the victim, and forced her to give her prostitution earnings to him. TRAMBLE was charged federally in August 2011.

He first came to the attention of law enforcement a year earlier, when Kent Police Department officers encountered a juvenile female working as a prostitute. This victim told police how TRAMBLE beat and coerced her, and how he advertised her as a prostitute on Backpage.com. Further investigation by law enforcement revealed that TRAMBLE forced numerous women to work for him as prostitutes.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, TRAMBLE will have to register as a sex offender. Prosecutors will ask that he be placed on 15 years of federal supervised release following his prison term.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Innocence Lost Task Force, which is composed of local, state and federal law enforcement officers who investigate juvenile prostitution. Key assistance was provided by the Kent Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Crisham and Ye-Ting Woo.