OPELIKA, AL — A 24-year-old Opelika woman has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for her role in a commercial sex trafficking conspiracy that targeted and exploited a 17-year-old minor.
Jada Renee Coggins was sentenced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, to 135 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Thomas Govan. A federal judge also ordered Coggins to register as a sex offender for life. Because parole has been abolished in the federal prison system, she will be required to serve the vast majority of her 11-year term behind bars.
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According to federal court records and details from her signed plea agreement, the trafficking operation began in December 2023. Coggins conspired with a co-defendant, Chloe Michelle Alexander, 31, also of Opelika, to recruit, induce, and control a 17-year-old female for commercial sex acts.
As part of the criminal conspiracy, Coggins admitted to taking photographs of the minor and uploading those explicit images to various adult classified websites to advertise commercial sex appointments. Coggins also admitted to physically transporting the teenager to various pre-arranged locations where the minor was forced to engage in commercial sex acts.
Both Coggins and Alexander subsequently entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Alexander remains in federal custody awaiting her formal sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for August 2026. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison.
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The multi-agency investigation was spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Opelika Police Department. The federal prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, J. Patrick Lamb, and Russell T. Duraski.
“Commercial sex trafficking inflicts deep and lasting harm, especially when minors are involved,” U.S. Attorney Govan said in an official briefing. “Removing those who exploit minors from our streets makes our communities safer and protects future potential victims.”
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI for Georgia and Alabama, echoed the severity of the offense. “Sex trafficking of minors is one of the most appalling crimes our society faces,” Schrank stated. “No child should ever be subjected to this kind of exploitation and abuse. HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle trafficking networks.”