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DOLTON | Two Dolton teenagers are accused of running a sex ring at local motels, marketing teenage girls on the Internet and forcing them to have sex with strangers, the Cook County Sheriff's Department announced Tuesday.
Twin brothers Myrelle and Tyrelle Lockett, both 17, of the 14800 block of Irving Street, each are charged with trafficking in persons for forced labor or services, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor and involuntary servitude, all felonies.
A Cook County judge on Monday set bond for both at $100,000. They were being held in a medium-security division of the Cook County Jail.
Tyrelle Lockett was arrested late Friday outside a Lansing hotel where undercover vice officers had arranged to meet one of the teens' alleged victims. Myrelle Lockett was arrested after a follow-up investigation linked him to the case.
Two of the alleged victims were taken into custody at the time of the arrests. Investigators are trying to determine how many girls may have been involved and for how long.
"We're still trying to determine that, continuing the investigation by reaching out to others who may have known these guys, associated with them, and been victimized," said Steve Patterson, spokesman for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. "These were the two victims we caught them with, but we know they've been active in soliciting sex for months."
The investigation began Friday when sheriff’s detectives responded to an ad on Backpage, a website similar to Craigslist for selling merchandise and seeking services.
The ad promised sex for cash and provided a picture of a girl, police said. Through e-mails, the officers arranged to meet the girl at the Howard Johnson Hotel at 17301 S. Oak Ave. in Lansing.
When the undercover officers arrived, they found Tyrelle Lockett standing in front of the hotel with the girl, police said. When the officer went into the designated hotel room and met the girl, there were obvious and visible signs she had been a victim of repeated acts of violence, Patterson said.
After an agreement was reached to exchange sex for cash, the officer took the girl into custody. Nearby officers arrested Tyrelle Lockett, who was found in possession of nearly all of the girl’s personal items," Patterson said. Investigators learned he refused to allow her access any of her things unless she performed the acts he demanded, Patterson said.
The investigation continued over the weekend, leading to the arrest of Myrelle Lockett. Officers also were able to take custody of another teenage girl whom Myrelle Lockett allegedly trafficked, Patterson said.
Through interviews and tracking of the brothers’ online and phone activity, investigators were able to determine they had been trafficking teenage girls through various hotels throughout the south suburbs.
Ads posted for the girls included rates as high as $300 for an hour, though investigators learned the victims either received none of the money or were given a portion by the Locketts.
The Locketts told investigators they attend separate alternative high schools in the south suburbs.
The investigation continues, and it is not yet known whether the brothers trafficked any of their female schoolmates.
They indicated they met at least one of their female victims while attending an alternative sentencing program on unrelated offenses, Patterson said.
The alleged victims have been referred for services with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department of Women’s Justice Services, which provides counseling, links to assistance and other rehabilitative services for at-risk women.
The brothers are set to appear in court again June 14.