Eight Indicted in Human Trafficking Conspiracy

Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today a 26-count indictment charging Damon Jackson, a/k/a “DJ”, a/k/a “Daddy Frost”, Tremel Black, a/k/a “Sincere”, a/k/a “New York”, Da-Shun Shukur Curry, a/k/a “Dae Dae”, Bakari Shahid McMillan, a/k/a “Bizzle”, Kerry Taylor, a/k/a “KJ”, Desmond Singletary, a/k/a “Six”, Howard Parker, a/k/a “Poppa”, Ryan Shaquon Turner, a/k/a “Gotti”, a/k/a “Qweezy”  with their roles in a Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1956(a)(1).  In addition to the charge of conspiracy, each defendant was charged with substantive counts of Sex Trafficking. 

Damon Jackson, age 23, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. § 1591(e)(2) and §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2, and six counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2. 

Bakari Shahid McMillan, age 23, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. § 1591(e)(2) and §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2, and one count of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2. 

Kerry Taylor, age 21, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. § 1591(e)(2) and §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2, one count of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2, and one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, a violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e). 

Tremel Black, age 31, of Columbia, was charged with one count of Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. § 1591(e)(2) and §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2, and one count of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2. 

Howard Parker, age 24, of Columbia, was charged with one count of Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. § 1591(e)(2) and §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2, and one count of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2. 

Da’Shun Shukur Curry, age 23, of Columbia, was charged with three counts of Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. § 1591(e)(2) and §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2.

Desmond Singletary, age 30, of Columbia, was charged with one count of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2. 

Ryan Shaquon Turner, age 22, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1591(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and 2. 

The maximum sentence each defendant could receive for Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking is life in prison.  The minimum sentences each defendant could receive for either Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion and Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion is 15 years in prison and the maximum sentence is life in prison.  Additionally, the minimum sentence Taylor could receive for Sexual Exploitation of a Child is 15 years in prison and the maximum sentence is life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said, “The prosecution of these types of cases is more than a job.  It is our reason for being. To say we will aggressively prosecute this case and charges of this nature is one of history’s great understatements.”

“Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery.  Homeland Security Investigations continues to pursue the perpetrators of this heinous crime as one of its highest priorities, via a coordinated global effort with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta Nick Annan.  “Over the past two years HSI has doubled its number of human trafficking arrest and we will continue our relentless pursuit to investigate and seek prosecution of these criminals while also ensuring the victims of this terrible crime are rescued and get the care they need.”

The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and City of North Charleston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Matt Austin of the Charleston office is prosecuting the case.

Mr. Nettles stated that the charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Information regarding human trafficking should be reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), Polaris – Freedom Happens Now, 24-hour National Hotline: 1-888-373-7888.

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