CSEC2011
United States US
Datqunn Sawyer, 32, was convicted November 21, 2011 of running a sex trafficking ring in which nine victims were forced into prostitution. The conviction came after a federal jury deliberated for several hours beginning November 18, 2011, according to a press release issued by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Sawyer was convicted after a two-week trial of 10 counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors by force. During the trial, officials said that Sawyer acted as a pimp who preyed on vulnerable victims including girls who were young, homeless, or runaways, officials said. Officials said eight of the victims were between 13 and 17. Sawyer used violence and threats of violence to exploit them sexually, knowing they were minors, officials said. Six victims testified during the trial that Sawyer recruited and groomed the victims by initially concealed that he was a pimp but promised riches and glamour if they stayed with him, officials said. He ran the ring between 2006 and 2010, officials said. He convinced the victims that he loved them and wanted to be in a long-term romantic relationship, according to officials. Sawyer also used threats and beatings to enforce a rigid set of rules that left him in control of the victims, officials said.To maintain control he had sex with the victims and impregnated three of them, officials said. Sawyer even gave the victims nicknames beginning with "P" including Precious, Paradise, Pooh, Peaches, because his own nickname was "P-Child". He also had them call him "Daddy" and had his nickname tattooed on their arms. If they spoke back to him or disrespected him he threatened them or beat them, officials said. He also forbade them from speaking with or even looking at other men except for clients, officials said. “Pooh”, whose real name is Angelique, was soon put on the streets to prostitute herself, and even given a quota – she had to have sex with five to 15 men every day, she testified. Sometimes, when she had a “good day,” she said she was rewarded with McDonald’s. As the months wore on, there was one day, after Sawyer dropped her off at the so-called “track” along Cicero Avenue that she testified she just couldn’t do it. She took off her high heels, sat down on the concrete and wept, she said. That’s when she said Sawyer appeared from the alley. “You stupid bitch, you’re supposed to be making my money!” she said he snapped at her. He grabbed her discarded heel and beat her head with it until she started bleeding, she said. She ran off to her grandmother’s house. But like many of the girls who lived in an apartment with Sawyer at Augusta Boulevard and Pulaski Road on the city’s West Side, Angelique returned to Sawyer. Two other men, Kevin Sharp, 53, and Waymond Orr, 33, who worked as drivers and security guards for Sawyer pleaded guilty before Sawyer's trial. Sawyer paid Sharp and Orr in cash and gave them clothes, food, and housing, in exchange for driving victims to and from sexual encounters on the street, referred to as “working the track,” including various locations on and around Cicero Avenue. Other locations were arranged through online advertisements, such as on Craigslist and similar web sites. Sharp and Orr watched victims to make sure they were not arrested or “stolen” by another pimp. On occasion, Sawyer told Sharp and Orr to watch victims and make sure they did not leave while Sawyer was away from the house. Both Sharp and Orr knew about Sawyer’s rules and were present when Sawyer beat his victims.
Sex Trafficking1998
United States US
1. Alex Mishulovich, male, approx. 40 years old at time of investigation, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Russia. Trafficked at least five Latvian women into the U.S. to dance as strippers in nightclubs he owned in Chicago. Also held the women in isolation in an apartment, continually harassed them for sex, and used physical violence and threats of selling them as prostitutes to force the women to strip. 2. Rudite Pede, female, Mishulovich's wife - Entered U.S. from Latvia by fraud. Assisted Mishulovich in obtaining false visas for the trafficked women and recruiting the women in Latvia. 3. Vadim Gorr - male, 35. Drove the women between their apartment and the clubs and assisted Mishulovich in holding them against their will. 4. Dace Mediniece - female, 26. Friend of Rudite. Assisted Rudite in entering U.S. illegally and entered illegally herself. 5. Sergei Tcharouchine - male, 42. Allegedly planned the ring with Mishulovich. Remains at large.