August 4, 2026 – SAN ANGELO, Texas – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that Devin Maurice Harmon, 51, from California, was sentenced to life in federal prison on July 31 for a series of crimes involving the exploitation, trafficking, and abuse of a minor over several years.

Image by Ray Shrewsberry • Ray_Shrewsberry from Pixabay

On April 10, a federal jury found Harmon guilty of the following offenses:
•    Enticement of a minor to travel to engage in prostitution 
•    Enticement of a minor 
•    Sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion 
•    Sex trafficking of a minor 
•    Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity 
•    Two counts of tampering and attempted tampering with a witness

“My office is laser focused on prosecuting those who harm our children and ensuring they are held accountable for their horrendous acts,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “For years, this defendant preyed on a vulnerable child, exploiting her fear and isolation for his own gratification and profit. He used violence, manipulation, and coercion to trap her in a cycle of abuse and then tried to silence her when law enforcement intervened. Today’s life sentence ensures this predator will never again victimize another child.”

“The life sentence imposed on this defendant demonstrate the seriousness of his crimes,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting our communities from child predators and will continue to work to ensure that those responsible for such acts are brought to justice.”

According to evidence presented at trial, law enforcement first encountered Harmon and the minor victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, on July 4, 2024, after Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, with assistance from the Texas Rangers, responded to an abandoned vehicle in Crockett County. Troopers discovered that the Crockett County Sheriff’s Office had provided a courtesy transport of an adult male, a minor female, and an infant due to a vehicle breakdown. The individuals were transported by CCSO to the Economy Inn Hotel in Ozona, Crockett County, Texas. Inside the hotel room, troopers discovered Harmon with the 16-year-old victim, who was listed as a nationally registered missing juvenile.

Investigators learned that Harmon had met Jane Doe 1 when she was 14 and homeless in California. Over the next two years, Harmon used manipulation, violence, and coercion to control her, repeatedly sexually assaulting her and forcing her into commercial sex acts with adult men across the greater Los Angeles area. Jane Doe 1 reported engaging in sex acts with approximately 100 men during this period, all arranged by Harmon, who kept the proceeds.

Harmon also used Jane Doe 1’s cell phone to book hotel rooms, communicate with customers, known as “Johns,” and receive payments from them for the commercial sex acts. Forensic analysis confirmed Harmon accessed his Facebook account from her device and used it to facilitate prostitution.

Jane Doe 1 stated that when they were apprehended by law enforcement in Texas, they were on their way to Louisiana because Harmon told her that the people in Louisiana would pay her much more money and convinced her that it would be a good idea.

Throughout the investigation, Harmon attempted to manipulate and threaten Jane Doe 1 and her guardian, resulting in his convictions for witness tampering.

A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Harmon on the aforementioned charges, October 8. 2025, and a federal jury found him guilty on April 10. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix sentenced Harmon to life in federal prison and ordered restitution of $5,250.

The FBI, Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Crockett County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Voice of Hope—Lubbock and the Victim-Witness Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office provided victim services and support throughout the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitney James from the Abilene Division and Callie Woolam from the Lubbock Division prosecuted the case.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

Source: DOJ Release