Memphis Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking

Memphis, TN – A Memphis police officer has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking Monday.

Sean McWhirter, 31, of Memphis, Tennessee pleaded guilty Monday to one count of transportation of individuals in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution.

McWhirter is a five-year veteran of the Memphis Police Department who was serving as a patrolman at the time of his arrest.

On September 13, 2012, while on duty and in his patrol car, McWhirter
agreed to transport three women to a location in Tunica, Mississippi, for the purpose of prostitution. Subsequently, on September 16, 2012, while of f duty, McWhirter delivered two women f rom Memphis, Tennessee, to a hotel in Tunica. Upon entering the room with the women, McWhirter was arrested by Special Agents and Task Force Of f icers of the FBI. McWhirter changed his plea in a court hearing bef ore Judge S. Thomas Anderson today, October 7, 2013.

The penalty for this charge is no more than 10 years in federal prison and a fine of no more than $250,000. McWhirter is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Anderson on January 7, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. There is no parole in the f ederal prison system.

This crime was investigated by the Tarnished Badge Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the FederalBureauof Investigation,MemphisPoliceDepartment,andShelbyCountySheriff’sOffice.Thecaseis being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Coleman on behalf of the government.