A father and son pleaded not guilty Sept. 27 to attempting to entice a minor into sex trafficking in National City.
Both Nevada men were arrested Aug. 31 in the parking lot of the Ramada Inn in National City following a sting investigation in which they allegedly believed they were talking to a girl under 16 years of age. Federal court documents show they were actually talking to law enforcement personnel.
Andre Anthony Franklin, 24, is charged with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of children, attempted enticement of both an adult and a minor. His father, Conoly Freddie Franklin III, 50, is charged with attempted enticement only.
Two different judges in U.S. District Court in San Diego have ordered both men to remain in federal custody without bail. They will next return to court on Nov. 5 to set a trial date.
Sheriff’s deputies were part of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force which did an undercover investigation. A female deputy talked to Conoly Franklin who allegedly believed he was talking to a young woman with a 16-year-old sister.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said Conoly Franklin communicated with the deputy over nine days to convince her and her sister to work for him in performing commercial sex acts. Andre Franklin traveled from Reno with his father, and allegedly talked to an undercover detective in Napa whom he believed was a 16-year-old girl.
Court documents say some of the conversations were on Facebook’s Messenger and excerpts were included. The U.S. Attorney’s office said Andre Franklin had discussions about minors being recruited for sexual activities for a year.
The alleged plan was to transport the woman and her sister to Reno, Nevada, and work for them doing commercial sexual activities. They remain in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
