Waterloo couple accused of sex trafficking to remain in jail pending trial

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Waterloo couple charged with sex trafficking two teens will remain in jail pending a trial, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Lawrence Edward Campbell Jr., 35, and his wife Sade Campbell, 25, were indicted earlier this month on one count of sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion in U.S. District Court. Trial for both is set for July 17.

U.S. Chief Magistrate C.J. Williams said Thursday during a detention hearing that based on evidence, the Campbells pose a danger to the community and to minors. He said Lawrence Campbell lured the teens from Chicago, telling them he would take care of them, and then he and his wife made them have sex for money.

Williams also cited both of their criminal records and pointed out Lawrence Campbell has seven prior convictions, four of which were committed while he was on parole or probation. His convictions included willful injury, domestic abuse, drugs and theft.

Sade Campbell has a lengthy history of drug abuse and has convictions for drug offenses and prostitution, Williams said.

FBI Special Agent Scott Irwin testified Thursday that Campbell met the two 16-year-old girls on an internet dating site and promised them he would take care of them and they could live with him in Iowa. He sent them one-way bus tickets to Waterloo on Aug. 25, 2016. Once the girls were in Waterloo, they were told they would have to have sex for money.

Sade Campbell placed advertisements on the girls, under the names of 'Sapphire” and 'Aqua,” on a website for escort services, Irwin said. Sade Campbell would take them to the customers. The girls told investigators about three sexual encounters, Irwin said.

One of the men who paid $250 for sex identified Sade Campbell as being with the girls, Irwin said.

Irwin said the girls told investigators they didn't get to keep the money, it went to Sade Campbell.

One of the girls said they told Lawrence Campbell they were under the age of 18 and he told her not to tell his wife, Irwin said. The girl also said he gave her marijuana when she complained about pain from a sex act.

Irwin said the girls also were told they didn't make enough money having sex, so they would have to steal items from local stores that could be resold on the streets.

Police discovered the trafficking when the teens were arrested by Waterloo police for stealing candy at a Target store on Aug. 29, 2016, a search warrant affidavit shows.

When officers checked on possible warrants for the girls, they found one listed in a national database as a missing person out of Chicago. One of the girls also had a one-year-old daughter, who came with them to Waterloo.

The Campbells were initially charged in Black Hawk County District Court but those charges will likely be dismissed since they have been charged in federal court.

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