Wisconsin Woman Indicted for Sex Trafficking Offenses

USPA NEWS - Richard G. Frohling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Colette Amanda Mahan, also known as “Pimpin’ Amanda” and “Amanda Chase” (age 39), of Waukesha, Wisconsin, for multiple offenses related to sex trafficking.

The indictment returned by the grand jury contains ten counts. Count One alleges that beginning in at least 2004 and continuing through approximately June 2018, Mahan traveled and used facilities in interstate commerce to carry on an unlawful activity, specifically a business involving prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1952(a)(3). Count Two charges Mahan with sex trafficking of a child, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) and (b)(2). Counts Three, Five, Seven, and Nine each charge Mahan with using force, fraud, and coercion to traffic a different adult victim for commercial sex acts, while Counts Four, Six, Eight, and Ten charge her with transporting those victims to various other states with the intent that they engage in prostitution there, including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, and Florida.

Mahan was arraigned on the charges on May 5, 2022. On May 9, 2022, a federal magistrate judge ordered that Mahan be detained pending trial, citing the danger she would present to the community if released based on the sustained, severe pattern of physical violence, intimidation, and exploitation described by victims and witnesses, and supported by corroborating evidence.

If convicted of any of the counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, Mahan would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. Mahan faces penalties of up to 40 years in prison for sex trafficking of a child, up to ten years in prison for the interstate transportation charges, and up to five years in prison for the racketeering charge. Additionally, the court can impose a fine of up to $250,000 per count as well as a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The sex trafficking charges in the indictment concern five specific victims. Additional members of the public who may have information about Mahan’s involvement in sex trafficking are encouraged to call the Federal Bureau of Investigation Milwaukee Field Office at 414-276-4684.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the Racine County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Laura S. Kwaterski.

The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

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Wendy writes for the United States Press Agency and is a former columnist with the Fulton County Expositor, Wauseon, Ohio.

Source: Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin press release May 10, 2022