GOVERNMENT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM

United States v. Wayne Eldrige Ratliff, 6:14-CR-00122-002-MC

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BILLY J. WILLIAMS, OSB #901366

United States Attorney

District of Oregon

JEFFREY S. SWEET, OSB #994183

Assistant United States Attorney 

jeff.sweet@usdoj.gov 

405 E. 8th Ave., Ste. 2400 

Eugene, Oregon 97401

Telephone: (541) 465-6771

Facsimile: (541) 465-6917

Attorneys for the United States

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF OREGON

The United States of America, by and through Billy J. Williams, United 

States Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Jeffrey S. Sweet, Assistant United 

States Attorney, hereby submits this sentencing memorandum in anticipation of the 

sentencing of defendant Wayne Ratliff on July 13, 2016, for the crime of sex 

trafficking of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a)(1), (b)(2). 

The parties are jointly recommending a sentence of 63 months in prison and 

5 years of supervised release. There are no known areas of disagreement between 

the parties. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 v.

WAYNE ELDRIGE RATLIFF

 Defendant.

____________________________________ 

Case No. 6:14-CR-00122-002-MC

GOVERNMENT’S SENTENCING 

MEMORANDUM

Sentencing Date: July 13, 2016, 

 at 1:00 p.m.

Case 6:14-cr-00122-MC Document 85 Filed 06/09/16 Page 1 of 3
GOVERNMENT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM

United States v. Wayne Eldrige Ratliff, 6:14-CR-00122-002-MC

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I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 

On February 26, 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the 

Eugene Police Department (EPD) investigated a female who was soliciting 

commercial sex acts online. The female was known to law enforcement to be a 

minor, and is referred to hereafter as AA. On February 27, 2014, as part of a sting 

operation, an EPD detective responded to AA’s online solicitation and arranged to 

meet her at a hotel in Eugene, Oregon, purportedly to engage in a commercial sex 

act. 

Defendant drove AA to the hotel, knowing that he was transporting her so 

that she could engage in a commercial sex act. Prior to arriving at the hotel, 

defendant stopped and purchased condoms for AA, and also allowed AA to use his 

cell phone to facilitate the meeting with the intended customer. Defendant had a 

reasonable opportunity to observe AA, and recklessly disregarded the fact that AA 

was a juvenile. 

Defendant was not AA’s pimp, however he did assist her pimp in the sex 

trafficking of AA. More specifically, between February 13, 2014 and February 27, 

2014, in furtherance of AA engaging in sex trafficking, defendant obtained hotel 

rooms for AA and allowed AA to use his digital device to post advertisements for 

sexual services. During this time AA did in fact engage in commercial sex acts.

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Case 6:14-cr-00122-MC Document 85 Filed 06/09/16 Page 2 of 3
GOVERNMENT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM

United States v. Wayne Eldrige Ratliff, 6:14-CR-00122-002-MC

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II. SENTENCING RECOMMENDATION

The government agrees with the guideline calculations set out in the 

Presentence Report. Although involvement in the sex trafficking of a minor is a 

very serious crime, defendant played a minor role in the offense. Defendant has a 

criminal history category of II based on his 2006 conviction for Receipt of Stolen 

Property and a 2008 conviction for Driving While Suspended, and a low-end 

sentence is appropriate. Provided that defendant continues to act consistently with 

acceptance of responsibility and continues to abide by the agreement reached 

between the parties, at sentencing the government will recommend a sentence of 63 

months in prison with 5 years of supervised release. 

III. CONCLUSION

In light of defendant’s role in the offense, and as part of a joint 

recommendation with the defense, the government recommends a sentence of 63 

months in prison, with 5 years of supervised release and a fee assessment of $100. 

Dated this 9th day of June 2016.

Respectfully submitted,

BILLY J. WILLIAMS

United States Attorney

s/ Jeffrey S. Sweet

JEFFREY S. SWEET

Assistant United States Attorney

Case 6:14-cr-00122-MC Document 85 Filed 06/09/16 Page 3 of 3