MEMPHIS - Feb. 26, 2016 - Man convicted in Teen Sex Traffickicking case

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SEE UPDATE to this case August 24, 2016 @ the bottom of this report.

The U.S. Attorney in New Orleans says a Tennessee man has been convicted on eight counts involving sex trafficking.

In a Thursday news release, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite (poh-LEET') said 25-year-old Timothy Jones of Memphis was convicted for bringing two teenage girls to New Orleans to have them engage in prostitution. Prosecutors said Jones used violence and fraud to coerce the girls to participate.

Jones recruited a 17-year-old from Baton Rouge to work for him in the sex trade in 2013. She escaped from him after three weeks.

A 16-year-old recruited in Memphis in 2014 was taken first to Kentucky and found by U.S. marshals in New Orleans last year, when Jones was arrested.

Jones faces from 15 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for June 29.

UPDATE - August 24, 2016

Timothy T. Jones, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 100 years in prison by Criminal District Court Judge Karen Herman, who found he's a career criminal under Louisiana's habitual offender law. An Orleans Parish jury convicted him of attempted second-degree murder and three illegal gun possession charges on Aug. 26. Using the pimp names of "Lucci," "King Lucci" and Lucci Loco," he also allegedly forced two girls, ages 16 and 17, into prostitution in three states, according to a federal indictment filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans. He awaits trial in the federal case.