Area man charged with sex trafficking

Federal authorities have charged a Puget Sound area man in an 11-count indictment with sex trafficking of a child for allegedly transporting a young girl across state lines for the purpose of prostitution.

Sean Jarae Hart, also known as Hush, is in custody in the Portland area after being arrested in Oregon, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Otake said. He will be moved to Seattle to face trial.

The indictment identifies the girl as being under 18 and dubs her JF1, for juvenile female 1. The indictment says Hart, in May and June, did "knowingly recruit, harbor, transport, provide and obtain by any means" JF1 to "engage in a commercial sex act."

Also charged in the indictment is Randy Wamon Ivey, who allegedly picked the girl up at Sea-Tac Airport on May 24 "and intended JF1 to work for him as a prostitute." An unnamed co-conspirator arranged for JF1 to fly from California to Seattle. Ivey is a fugitive.

In U.S. District Court in Seattle on Tuesday, Landon Conner was charged with lying to the FBI and with tipping off Hart that law enforcement was searching for him. He was released pending trial in August.