Former Ames nurse pleads guilty to 15 sex trafficking charges

AMES, Iowa (KCRG) – A former Ames nurse faces 15 sex trafficking charges after authorities say she lied to 14 victims to enlist them in commercial sex acts over nearly 20 years.

Carl Markley, a former licensed practical nurse and business owner in Ames, pleaded guilty Tuesday to 15 counts of sex trafficking by fraud or coercion.

Authorities say from 2004 to 2023, Markley told young men that he was required to perform sexual acts on young men or observe them in sex acts for the purpose of obtaining medical or massage certification, completing course work, conducting research or product development. .

He repaid victims for his acts, claiming that the payments came from grants or third-party funding.

Markley deceived victims using fake consent forms and contracts to get them to participate in paid sex acts, as if he were recording data for research purposes.

His lies included that he was collecting data from these so-called “research sessions” to provide to legitimate research companies or institutions, according to court documents.

Authorities said they were able to persuade victims by appealing to their charity by saying the research would help people.

The sentencing hearing will be held on March 24, 2025.

Markley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison for each of the 15 sex trafficking charges.

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