Portland man sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison for sex trafficking three minors

Federal sentence follows investigation spanning Oregon and Washington

A 51-year-old Portland man, Eric Lamont Harris, has been sentenced in federal court to 292 months in prison—more than 24 years—for sex trafficking three minors. The court also imposed 10 years of supervised release following his prison term.

The case centers on three victims who were 15, 16, and 17 years old during the period described in court records. The conduct occurred primarily in 2022 and involved the exploitation of minors for commercial sex, including travel across state lines to Washington.

How investigators say the trafficking operated

Court records describe a pattern in which Harris arranged housing, transportation, and advertising connected to commercial sex involving the minors. Investigators said each of the victims lived with Harris while he trafficked them. Authorities also said Harris booked hotel rooms, transported the victims to and from appointments for commercial sex, and facilitated the posting of online ads featuring the minors.

Prosecutors stated Harris collected proceeds generated through the minors’ commercial sex acts, totaling thousands of dollars.

• Spring 2022: Investigators said Harris began trafficking a 15-year-old victim, described as a ward of the state who was reported missing in March 2022.
• June 2022: Authorities said Harris began trafficking a second victim, age 16.
• July 2022: Investigators said Harris brought the first two victims from Portland to Kennewick, Washington, intending for them to engage in prostitution at a hotel he booked.
• August 2022: Prosecutors said Harris began trafficking a third victim, age 17, whom he had met in June 2022.

Authorities said the two victims taken to Kennewick were recovered after the 16-year-old’s parents reported her missing, prompting a response involving federal and local law enforcement.

Charges and plea entered during trial

A federal grand jury returned an eight-count second superseding indictment dated September 16, 2025. The charges included transportation with intent to engage in prostitution, multiple counts of sex trafficking of a child, counts alleging benefiting from participation in a sex-trafficking venture involving a child, and sexual exploitation of children.

Harris pleaded guilty to the eight-count indictment on November 6, 2025, on the fourth day of a scheduled ten-day trial, court records show.

Agencies involved and broader context

The investigation involved the FBI as well as the Portland Police Bureau, Kennewick Police Department, and Medford Police Department. The prosecution was handled in federal court in Oregon.

Federal authorities emphasized that sex trafficking cases involving minors often rely on coordinated efforts across jurisdictions, particularly when victims are moved between cities or states and when online advertising is used to facilitate exploitation.