Two Texas-area individuals have been charged with sex trafficking a minor by force, fraud, and coercion into the New Orleans area.
Taurean Okeith Jackson, 24, from Dallas, Texas, and Andrea Birdow, 22, from Sherman, Texas, were charged in a five-count indictment for their involvement in the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old minor from the Dallas area into New Orleans for prostitution purposes.
According to the indictment, Jackson and Birdow met the victim in mid-June 2013 and recruited her to work as a prostitute for Jackson. Over the next several weeks, they drove the victim throughout Texas and Louisiana for prostitution, which Jackson advertised and arranged using an online classified advertisement.
Jackson provided the victim with alcohol and/or illicit drugs to numb her senses, control her behavior, and encourage her to continue engaging in prostitution. He also controlled her by violence, including beating her with an extension cord and beating and choking Birdow in front of the victim.
The victim and Birdow were arrested in a Metairie hotel room by undercover law enforcement officers on July 10, 2013. Jackson was arrested in Dallas, Texas, approximately one week later.
If convicted, Birdow faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Jackson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum of life, followed by up to a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Both Birdow and Jackson can also be required to register as sex offenders.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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