Greenbelt, Maryland - A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging Jean Claude Roy, a/k/a “Dredd the Don," and “Dreddy," age 30, of Germantown, Maryland, with attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; and interstate transportation for prostitution.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Roy L. Austin, Jr.; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.
“Protecting our communities from those who engage in human trafficking is a top priority for ICE Homeland Security Investigations," said William Winter, special agent in charge of HSI Baltimore. "As a member of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate human trafficking, as well as working with our local non-governmental, community-based and faith-based organizations to identify, rescue and assist victims of trafficking."
According to the six-count indictment, between December 9 and Dec. 25, 2012, Roy attempted to force three individuals to engage in commercial sex acts, from which Roy benefitted financially. Further, the indictment alleges that Roy transported the three individuals across state lines to engage in prostitution and sexual activity.
Roy faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for each of three counts on sex trafficking; and a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of three counts of interstate transportation for prostitution. An initial appearance has not yet been scheduled in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. Roy is currently in state custody on related charges.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
This case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md/Human‑Trafficking/index.html.
Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended HSI Baltimore and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristi N. O’Malley, and Trial Attorney William E. Nolan of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, who are prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
