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A Missouri man, Jerome Anthony Oliver, has been indicted on federal charges for sex trafficking a minor. The U.S. Justice Department announced the indictment on Thursday (September 18) after Pennsylvania State Police discovered a missing and endangered minor in Oliver's vehicle during a traffic stop on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in West Pennsboro Township in April. Oliver, 53, was allegedly transporting the minor and a 19-year-old passenger for prostitution purposes.
The traffic stop, conducted by Trooper Travis Martin, revealed that the 17-year-old female passenger was listed as missing from Missouri. A search of the vehicle uncovered items such as sexual lubricants, condoms, sexually explicit clothing, hotel key cards, cell phones, and cash. During an on-scene interview, the minor disclosed that she had been forced to engage in sexual activities against her will and that Oliver possessed explicit photos of her on his phone. She also revealed that she met Oliver approximately six months earlier in Kansas City, Missouri, and that he had coerced her into prostitution.
Cumberland County District Attorney Seán M. McCormack praised the officers involved for recognizing the human trafficking situation, stating, "This is an excellent example of superb police work." The federal indictment alleges that Oliver engaged in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion between November 2024 and April 2025.
If convicted, Oliver faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a minimum of 15 years on supervised release and a potential fine. He is currently held without bail in Cumberland County Prison, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 8, 2025. The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate the case.