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Byron Cordell Thomas, Sex Trafficking, Oklahoma 2023
A Wichita man has been sentenced to 360 months imprisonment for his role in a sex trafficking ring that operated in Oklahoma.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, handed down the sentence to Byron Cordell Thomas, 37, who was found guilty of multiple counts related to sex trafficking and witness tampering.
A jury convicted Thomas of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, two counts of Witness Tampering by Corrupt Persuasion, four counts of Transporting an Individual for Prostitution, and two counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion.
The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations – Tulsa and Kansas offices, the Tulsa Police Department, revealed that Thomas targeted young, vulnerable victims between 2019 and December 2022. He would lure them in with promises of a safe or sober environment, only to control their finances and use physical violence or psychological coercion to maintain power.
Thomas was found to have transported the victims across state lines, trained them to avoid law enforcement, and even instructed them to recruit others for his operation.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The program focuses on fostering trust and legitimacy, supporting community-based organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
Thomas will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore and Shakema Onias prosecuted the case.
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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