Feds: Durham man forced NC girls to be prostitutes in Myrtle Beach

A Durham man was sentenced Thursday to more than 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to forcing minors from North Carolina to be prostitutes in Myrtle Beach, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department started their investigation after interviewing a 15-year-old girl who told police she was a victim of sex trafficking in 2019.

Johnny Ricardo Thomas, 34, forced the 15-year-old and another 16-year-old to travel from North Carolina to Myrtle Beach and become prostitutes, according to police. Court records said Thomas was aware that the two girls were under the age of 18.

Thomas threatened the girls that if they did not perform sex acts for money, "he would sell her to someone worse, who would do things like slice off her toes," according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

One of the teenagers said in a statement that she had night terrors, had to look over her shoulder everywhere she went and felt "disgusting, used, worthless [and] empty."

Federal officials accused Thomas of taking pictures of the girls and creating online advertisements.

Thomas' co-defendant, Becca Gray Mills, will be sentenced in Florence, South Carolina, on June 7. Mills is accused of helping Thomas traffic minors.

"We have no greater responsibility than to protect our children, and law enforcement will always stand up for those that need help,” said Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock in a statement. “This case was a partnership built on that mission, and we couldn't be more proud of the team that brought Mr. Thomas to justice.”

Law enforcement agencies in North Carolina helped investigate this case.