Knoxville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy and Related Drug Offenses
U.S. District Court Judge R. Leon Jordan of the Eastern District of Tennessee sentenced Marcus D. Washington today to 10 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Washington pleaded guilty on November 21, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to commit commercial sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1594(c), conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
According to court documents, on September 25, 2013, Knox County Sherriff Deputies arrested Washington after he arranged for a woman to meet an undercover law enforcement officer in a hotel for commercial sex. Police seized Oxycodone from Washington at the time of his arrest. A subsequent investigation revealed that Washington recruited the woman to engage in prostitution, knowing that she was addicted to Oxycodone and that she feared withdrawal sickness. In the weeks prior to his arrest, Washington threatened to – and did in fact – withhold Oxycodone from the woman as a means to compel her to prostitute for his profit. Washington kept all of the money from the prostitution. In addition to manipulating her addiction and fear of withdrawal symptoms, Washington assaulted and threatened physical harm against the woman.
“Opiate addiction exists in every corner of this country,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler. “This defendant used an addicted woman’s fear of opiate withdrawal as his weapon of coercion – all for his own profit.”
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates that the FBI will identify, investigate, and prosecute those who commit human trafficking violations wherein force, fraud and coercion is used for personal profit,” said FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Renae McDermott.
The Court ordered Washington to pay nearly $14,000 in restitution to two victims referenced in the plea agreement. This case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney William Nolan of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Trial Attorneys Rose E. Gibson and Nicholas Durham of the Civil Rights Division.
The plea agreement highlights the devastating consequences of human trafficking and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. We hope that this sentence brings some measure of justice to the victims and serves as a warning to those who would engage in similar crimes.
We will continue to work tirelessly to combat human trafficking and protect the vulnerable.
Related Federal Cases
- Richard Alan Davis, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Tennessee 2016 · Virginia
- Tennessee Dealer Sentenced to 23+ Years for Meth Trafficking Firepower · New York
- Cunigan Admits to Brutal Sex Trafficking Scheme · Texas
- Cunigan Admits to Brutal Sex Trafficking of Minor · Texas
- Hernandez-Velazquez Gets 15+ Years for Brutal Sex Trafficking · Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Sex Crimes|Drug Trafficking|Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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