Would-Be Sex Trafficker Sentenced for Attempted Coercion of a Child, Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Young Adult

SAN DIEGO - Steven Terrell Lewis of El Cajon was sentenced in federal court today to 19.5 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a 14-year-old high school student and attempted sex trafficking by force or coercion of a 22-year-old woman.

At today's hearing, the adult victim addressed the court, describing the devastating harm human traffickers inflict and how they deliberately target society's most vulnerable - including children and, in her case, individuals experiencing homelessness. The mother of the minor victim provided a written statement to the court, sayng the defendant's "predatory behavior" caused "immeasurable trauma."

Lewis was convicted by a federal jury on May 2, 2025. According to evidence presented at trial, on April 22, 2024, as the 14-year-old victim was walking to a friend's house after school around 3 p.m. in El Cajon, Lewis used his vehicle to block her path on the sidewalk, exited his vehicle and snatched her cellphone from her hand to get her cellphone number.

Lewis then proceeded to send sexually explicit text messages to the victim before she was able to block his phone number. The next day, on April 23, 2024, Lewis continued texting the victim, except this time from a different phone number through TextFree, a mobile application and web service.

When Lewis identified himself as "Pimpin," sent a sexually explicit photograph and invited the minor to "go get some money" with him, the minor victim immediately notified a coach at her high school. The El Cajon Police Department and San Diego Sheriff's Office responded. The case was further investigated by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force.

After Lewis' attempt to sex traffic the minor victim failed, one week later, on April 28, 2024, he began recruiting the 22-year-old victim through MegaPersonals and sent her to Roosevelt Avenue in National City, known as "the blade," to work street-based prostitution for his financial benefit. On April 29, 2024, the adult victim was picked up by an undercover National City police officer posing as a commercial sex buyer and was offered resources to leave prostitution. However, Lewis continued to message the adult victim, threatening to kill her if she did not continue to engage in commercial sex for his benefit.

"Sex traffickers prey on the most vulnerable," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. "This sentence is a strong reminder that federal prosecution awaits those who attempt to traffic human beings for profit."

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndzie M. Carter and Derek Ko.

If you believe you or someone you know has had an encounter with Lewis, investigators ask that you contact the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.

DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr1349-JES

Steven Terrell Lewis Age: 40 El Cajon, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Attempted Coercion/Enticement of a Minor - 18 U.S.C., Section 2422(b)

Maximum penalty: Ten-year mandatory minimum up to life

Attempted Sex Trafficking by Force/Coercion, 18 U.S.C., Section 1591(a)

Maximum penalty: Fifteen-year mandatory minimum up to life

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force

Homeland Security Investigations

National City Police Department

El Cajon Police Department

San Diego Sheriff's Office

San Diego District Attorney's Office

The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force is a cooperative effort involving the California Department of Justice, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, National City Police Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, San Diego City Attorney's Office, San Diego County District Attorney's Office, San Diego County Probation Department, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, San Diego Police Department, Southwest Border High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.

This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Special Victims Unit. Formed in April 2025, the SVU is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving sex trafficking and child exploitation, civil rights, and labor trafficking. The SVU oversees the Southern District of California liaisons to the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and Project Safe Childhood