8 People Indicted on Federal Human Trafficking Charges
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Eight Columbia residents have been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking.
The 26-count indictment was announced on Thursday by U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles.
Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Nick Annan called human trafficking a form of modern-day slavery and says that during the past two years the agency has doubled the number of such arrests it has made.
Nettles said those charged include 23-year-Damon Jackson, 23-year-old Bakari Shahid McMillan, 21-year-old Kerry Taylor and 31-year-old Tremel Black. Also charged are 24-year-old Howard Parker, 23-year-old Da’Shun Shukur Curry, 30-year-old Desmond Singletary and 22-year-old Ryan Shaquon Turner.
The maximum each defendant could receive for a conviction on conspiracy to commit sex trafficking is life in prison. It was not immediately clear if they had attorneys.
