man sentenced for extensive prison term for involvement in human trafficking
man receives record prison sentence for human trafficking involvement.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Robert Hawkins appears in a booking photo (Denver District Attorney’s Office)
A man from Colorado has been handed a staggering 448-year prison sentence for offences related to human trafficking, marking the second-longest sentence ever imposed for such crimes in the United States. Should the sentence withstand any appeals, it would stand as the lengthiest sentence on record for this type of conviction.
Robert Earl Hawkins, aged 44, was found guilty by a jury in Denver on 18 charges in March. These included three counts of human trafficking involving the sexual exploitation of an adult, one count of human trafficking involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of pimping involving adults, one count of pimping involving a child, one count of sexually assaulting a child, two counts of first-degree assault, and various other charges.
The trial involved three separate but interconnected cases with a total of seven victims, and the crimes took place between 2018 and 2021.
Prosecutors presented evidence during the trial showing that Hawkins used violence and threats to coerce his victims into submission.
Law enforcement identified four of the victims as adult women and two as children. Additionally, one male victim was shot in the leg and robbed by Hawkins after purchasing sex from a sex worker under the defendant’s control.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann stated in a press release, “Like most human traffickers, Robert Hawkins showed no regard for anybody but himself, taking advantage of six extremely vulnerable victims. This sentence should send the message that human trafficking of any kind will not be tolerated in Denver, and those found guilty of such crimes will face severe consequences.”
One victim described Hawkins as her “master” and revealed that the girls under his control were required to serve him by performing tasks such as preparing meals and earning money through commercial sex acts. The victims had to generate a minimum of $500 per day and reach a $5,000 quota to earn Hawkins’ trust, which was intended to fund fake identification documents for them to engage in sex work in California.
Prosecutors disclosed that Hawkins used a popular online escort ad platform to promote women and girls, with listings in both Denver and Los Angeles.
An adult victim came forward in December 2019, leading to an extensive investigation that lasted nearly two years. An arrest warrant was issued in October 2021, and Hawkins was apprehended in California the following month.
During the sentencing hearing, a defence attorney advocated for a 40-year prison term, which had been offered by the state during plea negotiations. However, prosecutors opposed this plea deal, explaining that it was extended to prevent the victims from experiencing further trauma by undergoing the trial process. Hawkins chose to proceed with a trial instead.
Second Judicial District Judge Kandace Gerdes imposed the lengthy sentence on Hawkins.
The longest sentence ever imposed for human trafficking in Colorado was in 2017 when Brock Franklin received a 472-year prison term from Arapahoe County Judge Peter F. Michaelson for his involvement in sexually exploiting women and children as the leader of a child prostitution ring. Subsequently, an appellate court reduced Franklin’s sentence to 401 years behind bars.
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Man gets historic years prison human trafficking
Man gets historic years prison human trafficking.
