Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Pimp gets 8 years for bringing teenage girl to Nevada

A federal judge today ordered a California man to spend eight years behind bars for transporting a 16-year-old girl to Las Vegas to pimp her out, according to federal court records.

In addition to prison time, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Andrew West, 27, of Hayward, Calif., to 20 years of supervised release.

He will have to register as a sex offender when he enters back into the community.

West pleaded guilty in January to one count of transportation of a minor for prostitution.

According to the guilty plea agreement, West and the girl met sometime in 2013 in Stockton, Calif., where the girl began working for him as a prostitute.

In May 2013, West, the girl and others decided to go to Las Vegas. The girl rode with West in his Lexus SUV, but West didn’t drive until after the group had crossed the state line, the plea says.

The defendant told the girl he couldn’t drive her across state lines because if he were caught it would look bad, according to the agreement.

West and the girl started operating out of a Motel 6 on 4125 Boulder Highway, “an area known for prostitution-related activity,” according to the agreement.

The girl solicited men for dates, netting a total of $260, which she left on the dresser for West after each date, the agreement said.

The scheme unraveled when the girl propositioned an undercover Metro Police vice detective, the agreement said.

A check of the girl’s phone revealed a string of messages with West discussing sex acts with clients, with West giving the girl tips.

As part of the deal West agreed to help with criminal investigations, should he be asked for assistance, according to the agreement.

The FBI and Metro investigated the case as part of the Innocence Lost Task Force.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, according to a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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