Louisiana Woman Sentenced to Prison for Her Role in Nationwide Prostitution Scheme Involving ID Theft, Drugging Victims, and Theft

New Orleans, Louisiana – On Friday, December 2, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Dominique Alaina Berry, age 33, a resident of Kentwood, Louisiana, was sentenced on December 1, 2022, to 45 months (3 years, 9 months) in prison, the top of the range recommended by the United States Sentencing Guidelines, by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon after previously pleading guilty to a two-count bill of information that charged her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, and interstate transportation and use of an interstate facility with the intent to carry on unlawful activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 1343, 1344, and 1952(a)(3) (Count 1), and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A (Count 2). Judge Fallon also sentenced Berry to a three-year term of supervised release after her imprisonment and ordered Berry to pay a $200 mandatory special assessment fee. He also scheduled a restitution hearing for April 13, 2023, at 2:00 pm.

Berry met Randy Jonal Schenck (Schenck) in early 2013 and subsequently formed a romantic relationship, according to court filings. Berry then began working for an escort agency under Schenck's supervision, frequently indulging in prostitution. Berry and Schenck traveled across the country engaged in a prostitution operation, the revenues of which Schenck demanded that Berry deliver to him. Schenck and Berry frequently advertised on local bulletin boards, social media platforms, and classified ad websites. Berry frequently went by the alias "Desiree Knowles." Schenck would threaten, slap, strike, beat, and choke Berry if she did not fulfill her role efficiently or effectively, or if she did not otherwise comply with Schenck's direction.

Following that, Berry and Schenck's business morphed into meeting people online who were looking for companionship, arranging face-to-face interactions with them, and incapacitating them by administering illegal drugs and prescription medication with neuro-suppressive side effects, including antipsychotic medications, which the victims unknowingly ingested. The victims' valuable possessions would then be stolen by Berry and Schenck.

Between November 2015 and September 2017, Schenck and Berry carried out the scheme at least fifty (50) times across the United States, including in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. Nine of the victims were involved in incidents, according to court filings. Berry and Schenck were detained on September 13, 2017 at a hotel in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Berry was found in the motel bleeding from her nose, with a swollen lip and puncture consistent with her teeth biting through her lip, and black electrical tape wrapped around one of her arms.

S.A., a Metairie, Louisiana citizen whom Berry met via a social media application on or about February 24, 2017, was one of the victims. Berry and S.A. arranged to meet at S.A.'s residence after exchanging text messages and phone conversations. Schenck then dropped Berry off at S.A.'s apartment. Berry inserted pharmaceuticals designed to incapacitate S.A., including various anti-psychotic prescription drugs, into S.A.'s beverages without his knowledge or authority while visiting S.A.'s apartment. Berry informed R.S. that S.A. had lost consciousness and was incapacitated. R.S. and one or more co-conspirators then stole S.A.'s possessions, including his wallet, two cell phones, keys, and his 2012 Toyota Tacoma truck. Schenck and Berry used S.A.'s debit card to make various purchases in the New Orleans region on February 25, 2017. Furthermore, on February 25, 2017, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office investigators responded to a wellness check at S.A.'s apartment and discovered him to be deceased.

Schenck was accused separately in February 2020 by a federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Louisiana in a twelve-count indictment. Schenck pleaded guilty on May 10, 2022, to two of the counts, which charged him with interstate transportation and use of an interstate facility with the intent to carry on unlawful activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1952(a)(3) (Count 1), and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 247. (Count 7). Schenck was sentenced to 300 months in jail (25 years) on October 6, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Evans commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and EDLA Victim Witness staff members Brandi Calagna, Melissa Meunier, and Brad Bordelon for their work in researching this case. U.S. Attorney Evans also thanked the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, the Tucson (Arizona) Police Department, the Salt River (Arizona) Police Department, the Cobb County (Georgia) Police Department, the Sandy Springs (Georgia) Police Department, and the Sacramento (California) Police Department for their assistance with the investigation (Arizona). The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, and Melissa Bücher.