Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
An Ames man has pleaded guilty to fifteen counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion. Carl Dale Markley, a former licensed nurse practitioner and business owner, admitted in a plea agreement to using deceitful tactics to compel fourteen victims into commercial sex acts from 2004 to 2023.
Markley misled numerous young men by claiming that performing or observing sex acts was necessary for obtaining certifications, completing classwork, conducting research, or developing products. He falsely claimed to have received grants or funding from third parties and paid the victims for these acts.
The plea agreement details how Markley fabricated consent forms and contracts that obligated the victims to engage in specific paid sex acts. He pretended to collect data during what he called "research sessions" and lied about submitting this information to legitimate institutions. Markley also appealed to the young men's sense of altruism by suggesting that their participation was beneficial to others.
Markley sometimes used hidden cameras to record videos and images of young men or minor male children without their knowledge. Sentencing is set for March 24, 2025, before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose. For each count of sex trafficking, Markley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and could be sentenced up to life imprisonment.
The investigation involved the Ames Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa is prosecuting the case.
Human trafficking involves exploiting individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for commercial sex or labor. It does not require crossing state lines or physical restraint. Indicators include long working hours, unexplained gifts, injuries, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or being closely monitored by someone.
Individuals suspecting human trafficking are encouraged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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