New Carrollton Man Charged in Sex Trafficking Scheme

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Jason David Young, a/k/a “J Bird,” “Bird,” and “Chris,”, age 32, of New Carrollton, Maryland today on charges arising from sex trafficking. The original indictment was returned on August 25, 2015 charging Young with being a felon in possession of firearms.  Today’s superseding indictment adds charges of sex trafficking and coercion.

The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Hank Stawinski of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Gary Gardner of the Howard County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks; and Howard County State’s Attorney Dario Broccolino.

According to the seven count superseding indictment, Young was a pimp who trafficked at least four women who were Maryland residents to engage in sex for money. Young directed three of the women to deliver drugs to individuals, including customers, and also provided drugs to women who worked for him, including crack cocaine and opioids.  Young used violence to force at least three of the women to engage in sex for money, and directed women working for him to also use violence.

The indictment alleges that Young and another individual transported the women working for him to hotel rooms and residences occupied by customers.  Young persuaded and coerced one woman to travel from Maryland to Virginia on February 27, 2014, and persuaded and coerced two women to travel from Maryland to Tennessee from January 18 to 21, 2014.

The indictment further alleges that from August to December 15, 2014, two of the women stole handguns from an individual and gave them to Young.  Young had previously been convicted of felonies and was prohibited from possessing the firearms. 

Young faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison on each of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and on each of three counts for sex trafficking; and 20 years in prison on each of two counts for coercion and enticement.  An initial appearance is expected later this week in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

This case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders.  Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members.  For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.

Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended HSI Baltimore; Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Howard County Police Departments, and Prince George’s County and Howard County State’s Attorney’s Offices for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Patricia C. McLane, who are prosecuting the case.