Lubbock man arrested by undercover agents gets prison time

Note: The video above reflects the top headlines from the morning of May 24, 2024.

LUBBOCK, Texas — A Lubbock man, Phil Kamau, 28, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for attempted enticement of a minor after he tried to pay a teenager for sex and was arrested by special agents, according to federal court documents. obtained by EverythingLubbock.com on Friday.

Kamau was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety in the 6900 block of 35th Street on October 27, 2023.

Federal court records indicate that in September 2022, authorities in Lubbock created an undercover profile on a “sexual website used by those who engage in sex trafficking and patronize sex workers” .

Court documents say an undercover agent posted an ad and Kamau responded asking if she was available. He contacted the undercover agent again on September 12 and asked if she was in Lubbock. The officer responded a few days later saying his 16-year-old “cousin” was in town and “trying to learn the game,” according to court records.

Kamau contacted what he thought was a 16-year-old girl and asked her the cost of a half-hour of sexual services, according to court records. According to court documents, they agreed on $120 and set up a plan to meet at a motel. Court records indicate Kamau, minutes after parking his vehicle, sent a text message to the undercover officer asking, “Damn (are you) sure (you’re) not a cop?”

Kamau was arrested by DPS special agents after entering the motel. He had the phone he used to contact the undercover agent and exactly $120.

After his prison sentence, Kamau will be on supervised release for five years. He will have to register as a sex offender.