DES MOINES, Iowa — A former Ames nurse pled guilty to sex trafficking multiple victims, including minors, for nearly a decade on Tuesday.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Iowa, Carl Dale Markley admitted to defrauding and coercing 14 victims into performing commercial sex acts from 2004 to 2023. Markley lied to the victims, telling them he had to perform sex acts on them or watch them engage in sex acts to obtain certifications, conduct research, complete classwork, and even for product development. Markley also paid the victims and claimed he received grant funding for it.

The plea agreement states that Markley created fake consent forms and contracts that required victims to participate in the so-called research sessions. He told the victims that the research was legitimate and that his findings were being sent to research companies. He also falsely claimed the research was helping others.

Court records state that Markley hid cameras in his office and used them to record the victims while they were undressed during the examinations.

Markley pled guilty to 15 counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2025. Each of the charges carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment.

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