SANTA ANA (AP) — A Long Beach man has been charged with forcing women he recruited online to work as prostitutes.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says 34-year-old Marquis Monte Horn has been charged with conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

He pleaded not guilty in court Friday.

Horn is accused of recruiting women from online ads by claiming that he and another man ran an upscale escort service that pays women $500 a day. A grand jury indictment alleges that Horn and co-defendant Roshaun Nakia Porter then forced them into prostitution, and made threats against them and their families if they fled.

Horn faces a life sentence if convicted of all charges.

Porter, who was charged last May, has pleaded not guilty.

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