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Missouri man gets 14 years in sex trafficking case

By WTOP Staff

JENNIFER McDERMOTT
Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Missouri man was sentenced Tuesday to 14 years in prison for taking a developmentally delayed teenage girl from Massachusetts to a motel in Rhode Island, where he sold her to a man for $40 and two packs of cigarettes to use for sex.

Thirty-year-old Stephen Ardrey, of Springfield, Missouri, previously pleaded guilty to trafficking a minor and transporting a minor to engage in sex. He was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island and apologized to the girl and her family.

Prosecutors say Ardrey met the 17-year-old girl online and corresponded with her for months before taking her in September from a library in Medfield, Massachusetts, to a motel in West Greenwich, Rhode Island. He engaged in sexual activity with her and sold her to another man, they say. She was found in neighboring Coventry after someone saw her walking with Ardrey.

The girl’s mother told the court her daughter suffers from nightmares and panic attacks and could not attend the sentencing because of her anxiety. She said her daughter is in therapy and recently graduated from high school.

“We have great hope that she will overcome what has happened to her,” she said.

The girl’s father addressed Ardrey, telling him he hopes he will use his time in prison wisely to reflect on the “long-lasting harm” he caused and learn how to become a productive, law-abiding citizen.

The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of alleged sex crimes.

The man who allegedly bought the girl for sex was not prosecuted. Prosecutor Adi Goldstein said that person did not know the victim was a minor and agreed to testify against Ardrey.

In offering an apology, Ardrey said no words could undo his actions.

As part of his sentencing, Ardrey also was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after he leaves custody, participate in treatment programs and register as a sex offender.

U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. said the sentence sends a message that sex trafficking is taken seriously and punished severely.

Goldstein requested the 14-year sentence because, she said, Ardrey preyed on an impressionable young woman and is a repeat offender. Ardrey was convicted of pimping in Georgia in 2007, according to the judge.

Ardrey’s lawyer, Kevin Fitzgerald, asked for the mandatory minimum, 10 years, partly because he said Ardrey witnessed his girlfriend’s suicide when he was 16 and suffers from a mental illness.

U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha said afterward on the steps of the court building that the sentence was deserved and he vowed to use all of his resources to prosecute sex traffickers and those who buy sex.

The teen’s family later held a ceremony to thank the law enforcement agencies, who they said ensured the safe return of their daughter and ensured justice was served. They also recognized Jim Pugliese, the man who alerted police when he saw the two walking together.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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