FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation
12/11/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Milwaukee Woman Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking of Multiple Victims by Force, Fraud, and Coercion
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced on December 11, 2024, that Colette A. Mahan (age 41), a.k.a. "Pimpin' Amanda," of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for sex trafficking.
On May 23, 2024, Mahan entered a guilty plea to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) & 1591(b)(1). According to court records and filings in the case, Mahan trafficked numerous female victims, including minors as young as 14 years old, over a period of at least 17 years using a combination of false promises, threats, and extreme physical violence. Filings also show that Mahan made her victims solicit sex dates at strip clubs, hotels, bars, casinos, and street tracks across Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kentucky, Florida, and Nevada, and she demanded that they give her everything they earned. Though Mahan had many prior arrests, this case marks her first felony conviction and prison sentence.
At the sentencing hearing, United States District Court Judge Brett H. Ludwig explained that Mahan's crimes were incredibly serious, noting that Mahan knew or should have known the devastating impact her actions would have on her victims because she herself had been victimized in a similar way during her teenage years. Judge Ludwig described how Mahan beat young women and girls into selling their bodies and how their suffering financed luxuries for Mahan, including a Porsche. Judge Ludwig also emphasized that sex trafficking has been particularly problematic in Milwaukee and that a long prison sentence was appropriate to deter others from engaging in this type of conduct.
"For many years, Ms. Mahan sought to dehumanize others for her own financial benefit," stated U.S. Attorney Haanstad. "I commend the courage and resilience shown by the victims when sharing the details of the abuse they suffered at Ms. Mahan's hands. The 19-year sentence reflects their courage as well as the tireless and collaborative work by the FBI, the Milwaukee Police Department, and federal prosecutors in pursing justice in this case."
"The women and men of the FBI work tirelessly to stop individuals like Colette A. Mahan from exploiting and harming victims," said Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle of the FBI Milwaukee Field Office. "The sentence handed down sends a message to individuals who prey upon vulnerable women. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, is dedicated to bringing these individuals to justice."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Milwaukee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura S. Kwaterski and Erica J. Lounsberry.
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