Houston Man Pleads Guilty To Luring Teen Through Social Media
Sunday, September 29, 2024, 1:15 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
HOUSTON, TX.- On Friday, September 27, 2024, Michael Ramone Hooks, 25, of Houston, Texas, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Sim Lake to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.
Following entering his guilty plea on Friday, District Judge Lake accepted Hooks’ guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2024. At that time, Hooks faces up to life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Lake remanded Hooks back to federal custody, where he has been since his initial arrest.
During his plea, Hooks admitted in court to recruiting a 16-year-old girl to engage in prostitution through a social media platform, Instagram, to perform text messaging and videos for financial gain.
According to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, Hooks communicated via cell phone with the teen and lured her away from a known sex trafficker, Antonio Dario Osario-Avelar, also known as “Pressure.” Prior to Hooks’ attempt to lure the child away to work for him, Osario-Avelar had caused her to engage in the commercial sex trade.
Hooks Knew The Victim Was A Minor
Hooks knew that the child victim was a minor. Law enforcement uncovered text messages revealing that they discussed her age. The child victim agreed to pay Hooks a “choosing Fee,” which is a fee the victim pays the trafficker for them to be their pimp.
In August 2023, law enforcement arrested Hooks and rescued the victim before she could join up with him. Osario-Avelar was previously sentenced to 375 months in federal prison for his actions and conduct in a separate case before U.S. District Court Judge George C. Hanks.
