Two men accused of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Texarkana and the surrounding area were sentenced to time in prison Thursday at separate hearings in Texarkana's downtown federal building.
Jamie "Phatboy" Gene Yates, 45, appeared Thursday morning with Texarkana lawyer Jason Horton for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey. Yates' co-defendant, Jeremy Paul May, 35, appeared Thursday afternoon before Hickey with Texarkana lawyer Matthew Golden.
Yates was sentenced to nine years and one month for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. May was sentenced to 10 years and one month. Hickey agreed to recommend both men for an intensive drug treatment program while in prison.
A search warrant unsealed in November 2016 in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas alleges the FBI received information from "multiple sources" that Yates was using his Facebook account to recruit girls to work as prostitutes in motel rooms in Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Ark., "where he harbored the minors and provided them with food and drugs."
A source identified in the affidavit as "Minor Victim 1, age 17" told investigators Yates attempted to recruit her as a prostitute through Facebook messaging. The girl reported that Yates gave her a place to stay in a motel room in Texarkana, Ark., and provided her with methamphetamine in exchange for sex.
"During this time he encouraged her to engage in prostitution and communicated with her via their online Facebook accounts," the affidavit states. "MV1 stated to law enforcement that she deleted her messages with Yates to prevent her parents from finding the messages."
A girl identified as "Minor Victim 2," told investigators she was "harbored" by Yates when she was 16 and working as a prostitute and described Yates as her "provider." The girl reported she was given shelter, food and methamphetamine during the time she was selling herself in motel rooms rented by Yates.
"When she received the proceeds from her prostitution, she stated that, 'Phatboy always needed it for something,' and she, 'felt obligated to give it to him,'" the affidavit states.
A witness told investigators of allegedly witnessing MV2 give $300 in proceeds from prostitution to Yates. Minor Victim 2 said Yates drove her to motel rooms in both Texarkanas to perform acts of prostitution, the affidavit states.
"MV2 maintained an online Facebook profile to advertise her prostitution services," the affidavit states. "MV2 also stated that Yates had sex with other minor female prostitutes in his rented motel rooms and further provided them with methamphetamine."
May is accused of selling methamphetamine from an outbuilding on his parent's property in Genoa, Ark., according to search warrant affidavits. May was allegedly part of the same Facebook group as Yates which allegedly solicited sex from young girls in exchange for sexual conduct.
Both men are currently serving time in Arkansas state prisons for drug crimes. Hickey agreed to allow the federal sentences to run concurrently to the time the men are serving on state charges.