MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jaron Jay Jackson, a Wisconsin man, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking two 15-year-old girls from Oshkosh and Green Bay. Along with his prison sentence, Jackson will also serve 10 years of supervised release for his crimes. Jackson, 36, enticed the two teenage runaways to join him in Chicago-area hotels, where he then directed them to engage in commercial sexual acts with clients in multiple states.

According to court documents, Jackson absconded to Illinois after being released from the Wisconsin prison system on extended supervision. He began sex trafficking the minors by posting sexually provocative pictures of them as advertisements on sex-trafficking websites. The victims were then directed to engage in commercial sexual acts in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota, under Jackson’s direction.

Officials also reported that Jackson engaged in sexual activity with one of the minor victims and attempted to do the same with the second victim. Videos of the sexual activities were recovered from his cell phone when he was arrested after returning to Wisconsin from Illinois. In sentencing Jackson, Judge William Griesbach emphasized the severity of his criminal conduct in targeting and exploiting minors, as well as the need for just punishment to protect the public and deter others from committing such offenses.

The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing issue of sex trafficking and exploitation of minors, highlighting the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat such crimes. The severity of Jackson’s sentence underscores the gravity of his actions and serves as a warning to those who may consider engaging in similar criminal behavior.