A Jacksonville, Texas man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for sex trafficking violations. This was announced by U.S. Immigrations Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard and acting U.S. Attorney Eastern District Texas Jay R. Combs.
Desnique Deshawn Herndon, 28, received seven life sentences from U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on June 18. In 2023, a jury convicted Herndon of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children after a five-day trial.
"Sex trafficking is one of the most appalling crimes in our society, exploiting the most vulnerable among us," said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. "Through our victim-centered investigations, we will spare no resource to protect communities and seek justice for those victimized by this modern-day slavery."
Court testimony revealed 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. Herndon posted explicit photos on sex trafficking websites offering commercial sex acts with the victims, some as young as 13 years old. During the trial, it was revealed that Herndon used co-conspirators to continue his operation while he was incarcerated so the victims could earn money to pay his bond.
"Victimizing children through commercial sex trafficking is reprehensible and will be prosecuted vigorously in East Texas," stated acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. "Herndon's life sentence demonstrates our society’s intolerance for such callous disregard for others."
Three co-conspirators previously pled guilty for their roles in these offenses. Malcolm Kadeem Roberts, 29, from Tyler, was sentenced on November 16, 2023, to over 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children and an additional 75 years in state prison for aggravated sexual assault charges related to a minor victim involved in this case. Tavarus D. Watkins, 29, from Jacksonville received a ten-year sentence on November 16, 2023, for interstate transport of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Patrick Lamont Cross Jr., 28 from Palestine pleaded guilty on August 22, 2022; his sentencing is scheduled for July 10.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including Homeland Security Investigations Tyler Resident Agent in Charge along with support from North Texas Trafficking Task Force and various local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Ryan Locker and Alan Jackson along with Special Assistant U.S Attorney Bryan Jiral prosecuted this case.
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