An El Cajon man, Samuel Melvin Cooper, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl across state lines.
According to prosecutors, Cooper had driven the teenage girl into Arizona for the purpose of performing sex work and intended to leave her stranded if she didn't make him enough money.
Cooper was arrested in September 2024 by San Diego police during a traffic stop and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion.
In his plea, Cooper also admitted to sexually exploiting and prostituting another 15-year-old girl, with full knowledge of her age. Authorities recovered explicit videos and photographs of Cooper engaging in sexual conduct with the girl.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said that the sentence reflects the profound harm caused when predators exploit minors for profit.