Milwaukee man, woman busted in North Dakota plead guilty in human trafficking case

FARGO, North Dakota — A 26-year-old Milwaukee man accused of transporting women across the country for prostitution has pleaded guilty to federal human trafficking charges.


U. S. Attorney Christopher Myers announced that Kurtis William Johnson pleaded guilty this week to two counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

Authorities say the North Dakota Highway Patrol pulled Johnson over in March 2015. He was driving with a woman and a 17-year-old girl, who he was allegedly bringing to North Dakota for prostitution from Milwaukee.

Officials say Johnson transported women across the country in exchange for drugs.

Myers says 26-year-old Tara Malinda Ridley, of Milwaukee, has also pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel in aid of prostitution. She allegedly rented the cars Johnson used to transport women.