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Life in Prison for Sex Trafficker Kendall Wysinger
A Martinsburg, West Virginia man has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a commercial prostitution ring that operated in the Western District of Virginia and elsewhere. Kendall Demarko Wysinger, 36, was found guilty of sex trafficking and distributing fatal doses of fentanyl.
According to evidence presented at Wysinger’s January 2019 jury trial, the defendant operated a prostitution ring with at least six victims in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Through the course of the conspiracy, Wysinger used heroin to coerce his victims into engaging in commercial sex and employed threats and intimidation to ensure he maintained power and control over those victims.
The investigation revealed that Wysinger routinely advertised his victims for commercial sex using online classified ads in Winchester, Virginia, Shenandoah County, Virginia, and cities in West Virginia and Maryland. He also used social media accounts to target and recruit women into his sex-trafficking operation.
On one occasion, the heroin Wysinger distributed resulted in two overdoses. Wysinger gave what he said was heroin to one victim of his sex trafficking ring and her friend. The substance was actually fentanyl, a far more powerful synthetic opioid, and both victims overdosed after ingesting it. One victim died as a result of fentanyl poisoning.
A joint investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force, the Luray Police Department, and the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Swartz prosecuted the case for the United States.
United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen, David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Jesse Fong, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Field Office made the announcement following Wysinger’s sentencing hearing.
“Sex traffickers enslave and traumatize their victims for financial gain. This is why the Department of Justice has made these cases a top priority.” First Assistant United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said today. “Today’s sentence shows our office’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting anyone who commits these awful crimes.”
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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