An Atlantic City man arrested for selling a teen into the sex trade pleaded guilty Wednesday.
Derrick Ross, 30, was arrested Nov. 27, 2019, after he brought the 14-year-old girl to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino after a man responded to an ad for an online escort.
The man who called was actually an undercover officer. The girl was recovered after offering sex, and Ross was determined to be the person who brought her there.
Ross has been jailed since then. He pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy and facilitating human trafficking.
The father of two let out a quiet laugh as the judge read his prior criminal history, which includes tampering with evidence, terroristic threats and possession of a weapon. He also had four probation violations.
The arrest was part of a State Police investigation into human trafficking within the casino.
After Ross' arrest, he consented to a search of his cell phone, which led to a co-conspirator, Tiffany Davis.
The victim told police Davis took her to various meetings with men to engage in sex for money, the affidavit of probable cause alleged.
Davis, now 42, was arrested at her Egg Harbor Township home on Jan. 17, 2020.
She pleaded guilty to the same charges as Ross this past April, court documents obtained by BreakingAC show.
Davis' attorney also moved for her to be released pending sentencing, but that was denied.
Davis and Ross face 12 years in prison for conspiracy and an additional eight years for facilitating human trafficking. Four years is without parole ineligibility.
Ross will have been jailed for four years this November.
Davis got an additional charge while jailed, records show.
She and four other women were charged with simple assault Jan. 23 of this year. Two of the women are now in prison for separate crimes.
A retired corrections officer was also arrested as a result of the investigation.
Kurt Young, now 56, has pending charges of engaging in prostitution and sexual assault.
Davis implicated Young after her arrest, according to the affidavit previously reported by BreakingAC.
She said that she regularly sent females to Young’s South Dennis Township home for sex, including the 14-year-old victim, the affidavit states.
Davis and Ross agreed to give truthful testimony if that case goes to trial as part of their plea agreements.
