A Charlotte man and his co-conspirator have been sentenced to prison for sex trafficking a minor, according to an announcement by Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Tawaan Batten, also known as "Slicc," received a 34-year prison sentence followed by 30 years of supervised release. Batten was convicted in December 2023 of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking of a minor, and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in commercial sexual activity. His co-conspirator, Kristi Heather King from Locust, N.C., was sentenced to 42 months in prison and supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor.
"Batten and his then-girlfriend preyed on a vulnerable child and repeatedly subjected her to physical and psychological harm for their profit," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron. "Today’s sentence sends a clear message: federal prosecutors and law enforcement are committed to ensuring that sex traffickers will face the full force of justice."
Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt from the FBI in North Carolina remarked on the case: "It is difficult to fathom that someone would sell a child for sex. But that is exactly what Batten and King did and now both of them will do federal prison for their crimes." He emphasized the FBI's dedication to holding accountable those who commit crimes against children.
Evidence presented at Batten’s trial revealed that from July 2021 to December 2021, Batten, sometimes assisted by King, trafficked a 15-year-old girl who had run away from home. The victim met Batten in a hotel parking lot in Charlotte before being introduced to King. The victim soon began engaging in commercial sex transactions arranged by Batten.
Trial evidence indicated that advertisements featuring the minor were posted on commercial sex websites by Batten with King's assistance. The encounters often occurred multiple times daily in hotel rooms booked by Batten across North Carolina and South Carolina or at customer locations they drove her to. The money earned from these encounters was kept by Batten.
Further testimony showed that Batten gave drugs to the victim while controlling her through intimidation, manipulation, branding with tattoos, and physical assaulting King multiple times.
Batten remains in federal custody awaiting placement into a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron commended the FBI's leadership in this investigation and thanked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Spaugh and Daniel Cervantes from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
For victims or those with information about human trafficking situations, contact can be made with local law enforcement or through resources like the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or online at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking.