By Sue Danielson
Photo: Getty Images
(Council Bluffs, IA) A long time Council Bluffs businessman and restaurant owner has been convicted of sex trafficking minors. Prosecutors say over the last 10-years, 71-year-old Hershal Ratliff had minor girls come to his house and perform sex acts in exchange for money, drugs, or other items. Ratliff owns Jimmy s All American Malt Shop and Grill in Council Bluffs.
The verdict came after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge John Jarvey.
The US Attorney s Office-Southern District of Iowa says evidence at trial showed Ratliff provided minor girls with alcohol, prescription Xanax, and marijuana at his residence. Evidence also showed he obtained sex acts for his friends from adult women by use of force and coercion.
By Sue Danielson
Photo: Getty Images
(Council Bluffs, IA) A long time Council Bluffs businessman and restaurant owner has been convicted of sex trafficking minors. Prosecutors say over the last 10-years, 71-year-old Hershal Ratliff had minor girls come to his house and perform sex acts in exchange for money, drugs, or other items. Ratliff owns Jimmy s All American Malt Shop and Grill in Council Bluffs.
The verdict came after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge John Jarvey.
The US Attorney s Office-Southern District of Iowa says evidence at trial showed Ratliff provided minor girls with alcohol, prescription Xanax, and marijuana at his residence. Evidence also showed he obtained sex acts for his friends from adult women by use of force and coercion.
A Council Bluff restaurateur was found guilty Friday of what prosecutors said was years of sex trafficking with underaged girls, the U.S. Attorney s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced.
Hershal James Ratliff, 71, owner of Jimmy s All American Malt Shop and Grill in Council Bluffs, was convicted after a four-day federal trial of four counts of sex trafficking minors and an additional two counts of sex trafficking adults. He was also convicted of two counts of distributing drugs to people under 21, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Attorney s Office said the prosecutors presented evidence showing that for 10 years, Ratliff had been having have minor girls come to his home to perform sex acts with him and his friends in exchange for money and drugs including Xanax, marijuana, prescription pills, and alcohol.
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