Newberry Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sex Trafficking Ring
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Eric Rashun Jones, 31, of Newberry, South Carolina, is headed to federal prison for 40 years after pleading guilty to running a sex trafficking ring that exploited women for his financial gain.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Jones violently exploited 19 women between August 2018 and November 2022, using physical violence, fear, and threats to control them. He beat some victims with a pistol and other objects, causing multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, broken bones, and teeth. Jones also recorded assaults on his phone, used sexual violence, and forced victims to engage in sex acts against their will.
Jones also abducted two victims, restrained them for days, and introduced them to drugs, including fentanyl. He used withdrawal symptoms to coerce commercial sex and isolated his victims from others. Many were tattooed with Jones’ name, which victims described as a sign of ownership. After confiscating their earnings, Jones used the money for his own financial gain.
“Our office will continue to bring every resource to bear to vindicate victims’ rights and hold traffickers like Jones accountable,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The cruelty, violence, and exploitation Jones showed his victims has no place in our society.”
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 40 years imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision, no contact with victims, and $65,000 in restitution payable to eight victims. Jones’ co-defendant, Brittany Cromer, pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced to five years earlier this month.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The FBI and local law enforcement agencies worked together to bring Jones to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Newberry Man Gets 40 Years for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy · South Carolina
- Flushing Trio Indicted in Interstate Sex Trafficking Ring · Pennsylvania
- Six Beaufort Men Indicted in Drug and Gun Trafficking Ring · South Carolina
- Anderson Couple Among Five Indicted for Child Sex Trafficking & Porn · South Carolina
- SC Courier Gets 51 Months in Elder Fraud Ring · South Carolina
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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