Houston Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Coercing, Enticing Minor for Prostitution

Michael Ramone Hooks, 25, of Houston, has been sentenced to 168 months (14 years) in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Hooks pleaded guilty to the charge on September 27, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, after reviewing victim impact letters, also ordered Hooks to pay $6,087 in restitution to a known victim. Following his prison term, Hooks will serve 10 years on supervised release, subject to numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

At the time of his plea, Hooks admitted to recruiting a 16-year-old victim to engage in prostitution through Instagram, text messages, and video calls. He communicated via cell phone with the minor and lured her away from another known sex trafficker, Antonio Dario Osario-Avelar, also known as “Pressure,” who had previously caused the victim to engage in commercial sex.

Hooks was aware the victim was a minor, as law enforcement discovered text messages revealing discussions about her age. The victim had even agreed to pay Hooks a “choosing fee,” a payment a victim makes to a trafficker to become their “pimp.”

In August 2023, authorities arrested Hooks and successfully recovered the minor victim before she could join him.

Osario-Avelar was previously sentenced to 375 months in federal prison for his conduct in a separate case before U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks.

“This case is a reminder that sex trafficking is happening in our city, even if it is not always immediately visible,” said Ganjei. “This case was, of course, a great hit against this specific defendant, but our larger goal is nothing short of putting the Houston sex trafficking trade completely out of business.”

Hooks will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) and the Houston Police Department (HPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Celia Moyer and former AUSA Sherri Zack prosecuted the case.

HTRA law enforcement includes members of HPD, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor (DOL), DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration – OIG and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.