COUNCIL BLUFF, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on Friday, July 23, 2021, 71-year-old Hershal James Ratliff, of Council Bluffs, a long time businessman and owner of Jimmy’s All American Malt Shop and Grill in Council Bluffs, was found guilty of four counts of sex trafficking minors, two counts of sex trafficking adults and two counts of distributing a controlled substance to a person under twenty-one years of age. The verdict came after a four-day trial in Council Bluffs U-S District Court.

Evidence presented at trial showed that RATLIFF, over the last ten years, would have minor girls come to his house an perform sex acts on him and with his friends in exchange for money, drugs, and other material things. The testimony showed that Ratliff provided the minor girls with alcohol, prescription Xanax, and marijuana both before and after they participated in sex acts at his residence.

In addition, the evidence showed that Ratliff obtained sex acts for his friends from adult women by the use of force and coercion. No sentencing date has been set. The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.