Los Angeles Man Gets Life Sentence for ‘Horrific’ Sex Trafficking, Pimping and Assaulting Teens

A Los Angeles man who pimped out teenagers in a “horrific” sex-trafficking scheme, stealing their earnings and beating the girls who tried to stop working for him, will spend the rest of his life in federal prison.

Donavin Dwayne Bradford, 32, was sentenced to life on a slew of charges including sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child porn and sex trafficking through threats of force, fraud or coercion.

He was found guilty in April of the crimes described by a judge Thursday as “horrific” and “inexcusable," the Department of Justice announced.

Prosecutors said Bradford conspired with Layla Kalani Valdivia to recruit and entice three teen girls, ages 15, 16 and 17, for commercial sex work from 2021 to 2022. One girl was expected to earn $1,000 per night and was forced to perform sex acts with him, which Bradford filmed.

When the victims tried to stop working for him, Bradford would threaten them, prosecutors said.

“To control his victims, he beat and berated them, pointed a gun in at least one victim’s face, intimidated them by referring to his gang membership, filmed himself having sex with them, took their money, and destroyed their property when they dared to leave him,” the sentencing memorandum read. “With at least one victim, he took her earnings from sex customers as well as her financial aid from school.”

Bradford and Valdivia were arrested in August 2022.

Valdivia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of a minor and is serving a federal prison sentence.