A Jacksonville man has received a life sentence in federal prison for sex trafficking offenses in the Eastern District of Texas, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Desnique Deshawn Herndon, 28, was sentenced to seven life terms by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on June 18, 2025. In 2023, Herndon was found guilty by a jury on six counts of child sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking after a five-day trial before Judge Barker. Herndon remained in custody from the time of his trial until sentencing.
"Victimizing children through commercial sex trafficking is reprehensible and will be prosecuted vigorously in East Texas," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. "We will not stand by and watch the lives of young people ruined by predators like Herndon to satisfy the wanton interests of commercial sex customers. Herndon's life sentence demonstrates our society's intolerance for such callous disregard for others."
Travis Pickard, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge, commented, "Sex trafficking is one of the most appalling crimes in our society, exploiting the most vulnerable among us." He added that HSI remains committed to dismantling criminal networks and providing support to survivors.
Court records indicate that starting in 2019, Herndon trafficked multiple teenage girls for commercial sex acts. He recruited them via social media with false promises of wealth and placed them in hotels around Tyler, Texas. Advertisements featuring explicit photos were posted on websites offering commercial sex acts involving some victims as young as 13 years old.
Three co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty for their involvement. Malcolm Kadeem Roberts received over 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking and an additional 75 years in state prison for aggravated sexual assault of a child related to this case. Tavarus D. Watkins was sentenced to 10 years for interstate transport of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Patrick Lamont Cross Jr., who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, is scheduled for sentencing on July 10, 2025.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse since May 2006.
The investigation involved numerous agencies including Homeland Security Investigations’ Tyler Resident Agency, North Texas Trafficking Task Force, FBI Tyler Resident Agency among others. The prosecution team included Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Alan Jackson along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Jiral.
