Ottawan pleads guilty to sex trafficking

An Ottawa man could face life in prison for sex trafficking.

Richard J. Oflyng, 32, pleaded guilty to commercial sex trafficking of a child Monday in federal court in Kansas City, Mo.

Oflyng admitted that he drove to an Independence, Mo., residence last March where he expected to meet up with a pimp, Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said.

Oflyng thought he was meeting up with an 11-year-old girl for sex.

The Human Trafficking Rescue Project, led by the Independence Police Department, advertised children on Craig’s List — an online classified advertising service. No real children were involved in the sting, Whitworth said.

Oflyng responded to the ad, which advertised that there were “little girls available.” An officer then contacted Oflyng by telephone and offered an 11-year-old and a 15-year-old girl, Whitworth said.

Oflyng said he wanted to have sexual intercourse with the 11-year-old girl and agreed to pay an additional $20 to have sex without the use of a condom.

When Oflyng arrived at the location the following morning, he paid $80 to have sex with the 11-year-old girl, Whitworth said. When Oflyng entered the designated bedroom, he was arrested.

Oflyng faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prision without parole but could face life in prison without parole.