OKC Woman Accused Of Running Child Sex Trafficking Ring

An Oklahoma City woman is accused of operating a child sex trafficking ring.

Tonya Gum and four men were named in a federal indictment alleging their involvement in the criminal organization.

Sanford Coats, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, announced Gum was the head of the ring and sold sex with young girls.

"This is something people need to be aware of," Brian Bates said.

Bates typically exposes prostitution-related activities on JohnTV.com, but after reading the federal indictment against Gum and the four accused Johns he decided to take it a step further.

Bates went door-to-door passing out fliers in the Bentwood Creek Addition near S.W. 59th Street and County Line Road, Wednesday.

Gum is under house arrest in that neighborhood until her trial.

Bates said it's important to issue a warning to homeowners about their potentially dangerous neighbor.

"A lot of people don't think that the sweet young lady living next door in the $300,000 home could be a child sex trafficker and this dispels those myths," he said.

At least one neighbor welcomed the information.

"I would like for everybody in the neighborhood to know that we have someone like that here so we can all take precautions," said neighbor Heather Brakebill.

According to court records, Gum operated an escort service by placing at least 20 yellow page ads under names such as Blonde Bombshells, Daytime Dolls, and Cherry Delite.

Prosecutors allege she acted as a middle man arranging sex transactions between men and 14- and 15-year-old girls in exchange for her cut of the money.

"Most of her Johns utilized her because if there is an ad in the phone book, it isn't the police because the police are not going to pay for an ad and then man it 24 hours a day," Bates explained.

It's unclear how the federal government infiltrated the criminal organization but those Johns are now charged with conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking, and stand to lose their homes.

The government announced it plans to seize the personal property of the Johns, if convicted.

Gum is renting her home in the 6000 block of Whispering Grove Drive, so the government could not seize her house, if convicted.

But several neighbors said they would like to see her evicted.

"I would like to see them gone, absolutely, I have little children running around. so it’s pretty scary stuff " Brakebill said.

Gum did not respond to News9's inquiries in time for this report.

If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison and a fine of $250,000.