U.S. Attorney’s Office Highlights Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina affirms its continued commitment to work with federal, state, and local partners to combat human trafficking in all its forms. 

“Human trafficking is an assault on the dignity and freedom of the men, women, and children who fall victim to it,” said United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office – along with our federal, state, and local partners – remains committed to making our state a more dangerous place for traffickers to operate and a safer place for trafficking survivors.  We thank the law enforcement agencies and service providers who partner with us, and we look forward to continuing in this work.”

In the past year, the United States Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of its law enforcement partners, prosecuted the following noteworthy cases:

United States v. Robinson, Crim. No. 2:21-cr-211-RMG.  Brian Lydell Robinson, from Charleston, was convicted of extorting a victim for money and sex and for impersonating a federal law enforcement officer.  He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of court-ordered supervision.  According to evidence presented in court, Robinson threatened the victim by telling her that she would be prosecuted, which would ruin her reputation, unless she assisted in an undercover operation against an alleged sex trafficker who was, in fact, Robinson.  In truth there was no investigation, and Robinson used the scheme to extort money and sex from his victim by posing as the trafficker under investigation, the investigator, and a defense lawyer.

United States v. Watson et. al. , Crim. No 3:20-cr-492-JFA.   Brian Leroy Watson, a/k/a “Lil B,” of Blythewood, was convicted of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin.  Numerous witnesses told the FBI that Watson manipulated the withdrawal symptoms and drug dependence of women to obtain commercial sex for his financial gain.  When a victim disclosed to law enforcement that Watson sexually assaulted her, he denied it, and instead said he was prostituting her.  Advertisements linked to Watson’s phone provided evidence that he was advertising the victim while she was a minor.  Evidence demonstrated Watson knew the victim was a minor. Watson’s sentencing is pending and he faces up to Life in prison.  His co-defendant, Ryan Darian Grover, was convicted of human trafficking conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

United States v. Grow et. al. , Crim. No. 4:21-cr-173-SAL.  In this multi-defendant case that stretched across multiple states, four defendants were convicted of sex trafficking of minors and related offenses.  The defendants included three from the Myrtle Beach area.  According to evidence presented in court, the lead defendant, Hart William Grow, communicated with at least 23 minors in this scheme where he gained the trust of minor victims online by purporting to be interested in a relationship.  Grow forced minor victims to produce sexually explicit photos and videos with adult men, after which Grow would collect the files.  His victims were in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, along with others in South Carolina and across the country. Grow was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison and co-defendant Theodore Woolings Bye received a sentence of 24 years, both to be followed by lifetime supervision by the federal court.  

United States v. Thomas, Crim. No. 4:21-cr-554-SAL.   Johnny Ricardo Thomas, from North Carolina, was convicted of coercing 15- and 16-year-old minors to engage in prostitution in the Myrtle Beach area.   According to evidence presented, Thomas knew his victims were minors, and he would threaten one minor victim that he would sell her, slice off her toes, or something worse if she did not participate in commercial sex.  Thomas was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervision. 

United States v. Garland et al., Crim. No. 8:20-cr-0452-SAL.  Following the conviction of eight defendants on sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor charges – two lead defendants and six customers – Gary Garland and Shannon Garland, a husband and wife from Anderson, were sentenced to 35 years and 26.5 years in federal prison respectively, to be followed by lifetime supervision.  The lead defendants forced two minor victims to participate in more than 300 commercial sex encounters, provided illegal drugs to the minor victims, and made their victims completely dependent on the Garlands for survival. Other participants in the sex trafficking conspiracy were also sentenced to prison time.

United States v. Balcazar et al.,  Crim. No. 3:21-cr-834-SAL.  In this labor trafficking case, a father, daughter, and their labor contracting business, all from Lexington, were convicted of forced labor, fraud in foreign labor trafficking, and confiscation of passports related to labor trafficking. According to evidence presented in court, the defendants enticed seasonal agricultural workers from Mexico to work on South Carolina farms through false and fraudulent pretenses.  Once the victim employees arrived in South Carolina, they were subject to high levels of control, passport confiscation, underpayment, and inadequate housing conditions. The defendants are awaiting sentencing.

United States v. Jones, et. al. , Crim. No. 3:22-cr-726-SAL.  A federal grand jury in Columbia indicted Eric Rashun Jones, a/k/a “E Dolla,” a/k/a “E,” from Newberry, and Brittany Danielle Cromer, from Greenville, on multiple sex trafficking charges involving numerous victims.  The grand jury also charged defendants with human trafficking conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and witness tampering for interference in the human trafficking investigation.  Jones is detained pending the outcome of the case, and both defendants face up to life in prison. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

To report a tip or ask for help, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

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