TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a member of a human trafficking ring to 30 years in prison after prosecutors say he and fellow gang members paid for motel rooms, setup advertisements and collected money in Pierce County.

Superior Court Judge Stephanie Arend sentenced 28-year-old Matthew Jeffrey Holt on Friday after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges including human trafficking and promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor.

Holt was one of 11 charged in connection to operations in Pierce County. Holt is alleged to be the leader. His defense attorney said Holt had a traumatic and violent childhood and Holt fell into the lifestyle he was born into.