Final Defendant in Child Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 34, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2023, Nicholson and his codefendants targeted vulnerable minors, specifically 16 and 17-year-old girls. One victim was a missing and runaway minor from another state. Two victims were Columbia-area high school students with clear vulnerabilities. Together, the four defendants enticed, harbored, transported, advertised, provided, and exploited the three girls into commercial sexual exploitation. They took photographs of the victims, gave them lingerie, advertised them on commercial sex websites, and confiscated the proceeds. Victims were subjected to physical violence and forced to have sex with adult men. They were exposed to drugs, guns, and dangerous encounters with violent customers. The young girls did not have access to medical care, food, or other daily necessities.

"This is the behavior of a monster. Nicholson and his codefendants exploited these children in the most vulnerable way possible," said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. "I commend law enforcement for working together at the federal, state and local level to intervene and rescue these children, who are survivors of such heinous acts."

"Antonio Nicholson targeted vulnerable kids, including runaways, and treated them like property to be advertised, sold, and controlled," said HSI Carolinas Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito. "Today's sentence sends a clear message: if you prey on children, you will pay for it. HSI and our partners will keep working to protect children and other vulnerable people and bring these predators to justice."

"It's heartbreaking to think sex trafficking happens in our communities. Our children are our greatest asset while also being our most vulnerable. To profit off cruelty and abuse to a child is reprehensible," said SLED Chief Mark Keel. "In South Carolina, the local, state, and federal partnerships we have mean those who commit such disgusting crimes will face the consequences. Every survivor deserves justice."

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Nicholson to 300 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. Three co-defendants were previously sentenced. Terrell Counts was previously sentenced to 135 months' imprisonment. Rebecca Melanie Perry was sentenced to 150 months' imprisonment. Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary was sentenced to 165 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore prosecuted the case.

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