FARGO – A Wisconsin man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to enslave a teenager and smuggling heroin in North Dakota.
Tyrice Excell Akins, 29, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, entered the guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson on April 22, 2016, to a three-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, transportation of a minor, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The charges against Akins were brought to light after a routine traffic stop by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, which pulled over a rental vehicle driven by Kurtis Johnson. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a woman and a 17-year-old female who said she was being trafficked from Milwaukee to Bismarck, North Dakota, for the purpose of prostitution.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Johnson, who was working for Akins, was provided with narcotics in exchange for transporting women and one juvenile to locations in Florida, Louisiana, and North Dakota for prostitution between 2014 and 2015.
The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, which included the assistance of the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force includes regional response teams from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as victim service providers.
The North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force is dedicated to addressing the individualized needs of human trafficking victims and the apprehension, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking perpetrators.
Akins’ guilty pleas are a significant victory for law enforcement and human trafficking victims. His actions have left a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by his crimes. As this case moves forward, it serves as a reminder of the importance of continued efforts to combat human trafficking and protect its victims.
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Key Facts
- State: North Dakota
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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