U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan issued the following announcement on Jan. 16.
A Detroit resident was convicted by a federal jury today on charges of sex trafficking using force and coercion, distribution of controlled substances, and maintaining a drug premises, announced United States Matthew Schneider.
Schneider was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Richard Knider Jackson, 70, of Detroit, was convicted following a 5-day jury trial before United States District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III. The jury deliberated approximately 2 hours before returning their verdicts.
“This defendant treated his victims like goods to be bought and sold,” stated U.S. Attorney Schneider. “He targeted vulnerable women and exploited them for his own profit. He manipulated his victims’ drug addictions and provided them with a constant supply of heroin and crack cocaine. We hope that cases like this one will raise awareness that sex traffickers are exploiting victims in our communities."
Jackson was also convicted of distribution of heroin and crack cocaine and maintaining a drug premises.
Evidence presented at the trial established that a woman called 911 in 2016 pleading for help. When Detroit Police responded, the officers quickly determined that the location was used for human trafficking. In the home, officers observed a house in complete disrepair, with signs of intravenous drug use throughout the home. Defendant had installed a security gate within the home at the top of the stairs.
Sentencing is set for April 16, 2020. Jackson faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and up to life.
The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara D. Woodward and Barbara Lanning.
Original source can be found here.
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