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Life Sentences for Smithfield Human Trafficker
A Smithfield man has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences in prison for his role in a human trafficking operation that exploited vulnerable women and minors.
Jonathan Lynn Jenkins, 48, also known as ‘Max,’ was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and of a minor, sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, sex trafficking of a minor, using the internet to promote a prostitution business enterprise, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Between November 2014 and October 2015, Jenkins and his co-conspirator prostituted numerous women, including minors, whom they lured with promises of food, shelter, and a better life. However, once in their control, the victims were subjected to physical and emotional abuse, including beatings, choking, and threats of violence.
Jenkins also emotionally and psychologically manipulated the victims, withholding food and money and isolating them from the outside world. He even claimed to have magical powers that allowed him to hunt down and kill victims who tried to escape.
Before imposing the sentence, Judge James C. Dever III described Jenkins as ‘an extraordinarily dangerous human being’ and his crimes as a ‘form of modern-day slavery.’
Jenkins has a history of violent crime, having been convicted of second-degree murder in state court in 2006. He also faces first-degree murder charges in state court in Johnston County, North Carolina.
U.S. Attorney G. Norman Acker, III, announced the sentencing after it was handed down by Judge Dever. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the Raleigh Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Blondel and Lucy Brown prosecuted the case.
Jenkins was ordered to pay restitution of at least $418,361.70.
The case is a stark reminder of the horrors of human trafficking and the need for continued efforts to combat this modern-day slavery. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the courts in bringing perpetrators to justice.
The case number is 5:18-CR-451-D, and related court documents can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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