Des Moines Man Gets Life Sentence for Sex Trafficking Three Women, Drug and Obstruction Charges

Dave Shumpert III, 30, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking, drug distribution, and obstruction. Co-defendant Haley Morrison received 174 months.

Des Moines Man Sentenced to Life for Sex Trafficking, Drugs, and Witness Intimidation

Dave Shumpert III, 30, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced to life in prison by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, DOJ Justice News reports. A jury had convicted him on June 11 on charges including sex trafficking of three women, distribution of a controlled substance, and obstruction of justice.

"This sentence reflects the violent and reprehensible acts of coercion this defendant used to exploit the victims for his own personal profit," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Human traffickers use people like disposable products for an illegal business and violate them in endless ways when doing so. We recognize the courage of the survivors who faced their abuser at trial, and today's sentence ensures that Dave Shumpert will not victimize anyone else ever again."

U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa said the sentence fulfilled a pledge made when the jury returned its verdict in June. "The defendant preyed on three vulnerable young women, profited from their exploitation — even while incarcerated — and attempted to intimidate and threaten a government witness," Waterman said. He credited Homeland Security Investigations, the Des Moines Police Department, and the Justice Department's Criminal Division for their work on the case.

Targeting Homeless Women Struggling With Addiction

According to court documents, Shumpert and his co-defendant, Haley Morrison, 30, also of Des Moines, systematically targeted homeless young women with drug addictions. The two provided their victims with shelter and drugs, then used physical force, threats, a coercive debt scheme, and withholding of drugs to compel the women into commercial sex work.

Shumpert and Morrison advertised the women online, set the prices for sex acts, communicated with buyers, rented hotel rooms, and retained most of the proceeds. Electronic communications introduced at trial showed Shumpert directing Morrison on how to manage and control the victims. One victim testified that Morrison hit her with closed fists and dragged her by the hair. The victims described their fear of homelessness, drug withdrawal, and being indebted to Shumpert.

Scheme Continued Behind Bars

Even after his arrest, Shumpert kept his operation running. He placed thousands of calls to Morrison from jail to discuss the commercial sex business and received more than $32,000 in his commissary accounts, funded by proceeds from the victims' exploitation. While incarcerated, he also sought to intimidate a government witness by directing someone outside the jail to post threatening messages on his social media accounts.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Sabatini of HSI Kansas City said the investigation exposed how Shumpert "exploited vulnerable women, profited from their abuse and attempted to obstruct justice even after his arrest." Sabatini added that HSI would continue to pursue human traffickers who exploit vulnerable people through violence, coercion, and fear.

Co-Defendant Sentenced to Over 14 Years

Morrison previously pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion on November 25, 2025. She was sentenced on August 3 to 174 months — just over 14 years — in prison.

The jury convicted Shumpert on three counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction of a sex trafficking prosecution, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance to a person under 21, conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Jennings for the Southern District of Iowa. HSI Kansas City led the investigation, with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.

Anyone with information about human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Source: DOJ Justice News