DES MOINES, Iowa — A former Ames nurse practitioner was sentenced to federal prison for sex trafficking multiple young victims.

Carl Dale Markley, 45, pled guilty to 15 counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion in November for sexually abusing and sex trafficking young victims for almost a decade.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Iowa, Markley admitted to coercing at least 14 victims into conducting commercial sex acts from 2004 to 2023. Markley told the victims that he had to perform sex acts on them or watch them engage in sex acts in order to be granted certifications, complete classwork, conduct research, and even for product development; however, it was a lie.

Markley also had hidden cameras in his office to record the victims, the attorney’s office said.

“This case is a stark reminder that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable,” Ames Police Chief Geoff Huff said in a statement. “We commend the bravery of the victims who came forward and the relentlessness of our officers and partner agencies in bringing this perpetrator to justice.”

On Monday, Markley was sentenced to life in federal prison.

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