California Man Charged with Sex Trafficking

California Man Charged with Sex Trafficking

A California man is facing federal charges for allegedly trafficking a 13-year-old girl for sex in New Mexico, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Cordny Henry, 29, of Oakland, Calif., was arraigned in federal court in Albuquerque on a superseding indictment charging him with commercial sex trafficking. His co-defendant, Juanita Williams, 27, of Pittsburg, Calif., previously entered a not guilty plea to the superseding indictment on May 2, 2016.

The superseding indictment, filed on April 26, 2016, alleges that Henry and Williams used force, threats of force and coercion to cause the minor child to engage in a commercial sex act. According to the indictment, the crime occurred in Bernalillo County, N.M., and elsewhere between Sept 2, 2015 and Sept. 12, 2015.

According to court filings, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office initiated the investigation leading to the charge in the superseding indictment in mid-Sept. 2015, after the victim, who was then in California, contacted a local detective and reported that she had been the victim of sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that the victim allegedly had been trafficked for sex by Henry during the first two weeks of Sept. 2015.

Williams allegedly was identified as Henry’s accomplice. Henry and Williams allegedly forced the victim to earn a minimum of $500 per day by engaging in sex with customers, and Henry allegedly kept the money generated by prostituting the victim. Henry and Williams allegedly forced the victim to engage in commercial sex acts in Albuquerque and then transported her to Los Angeles, Calif., where the criminal activity continued.

Charges initially were filed against Henry and Williams in March 2016, after the investigation identified them as the individuals who trafficked the victim. Williams was arrested on March 15, 2016 and Henry was arrested on April 8, 2016. Both remain in custody pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled.

Henry and Williams each face a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted of the crime charged in the superseding indictment. Charges in indictments and criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.