Two Operators of a Multi-State Sex Trafficking Enterprise That Spanned Eastern Seaboard Sentenced to 239 and 300 Months in Prison

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Edwin Barcus, Jr., age 27 and Joshua Dumas, also known as “Hitman,” age 21, both of Atlanta, Georgia, were sentenced today for conducting a Child Exploitation Enterprise. Barcus was sentenced to 300 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Dumas was sentenced to 239 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Both defendants were also ordered to pay $ 177,050.23 in restitution.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, Attorney General of Virginia; Lieutenant Colonel Edwin C. Roessler, Jr., Acting Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department; and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the two defendants were sentenced by United States District Judges Leonie M. Brinkema and Gerald Bruce Lee.

“These two defendants engaged in some of the most deplorable conduct imaginable: they abused, assaulted, and sexually exploited young girls for commercial profit up and down the Eastern seaboard,” said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride. “Given these heinous acts, my office and our law enforcement partners aggressively pursued Barcus and Dumas and charged them with conducting a ‘Child Exploitation Enterprise’—a forceful statute—that mandates they each serve at least 20 years in prison. Today’s sentences cannot erase the devastation caused by these felons, but it does ensure that they can no longer hurt our daughters and sisters and serves as a clear warning to all those who contemplate engaging in this despicable crime.”

“These two men exploited adults and children alike, exposing them to a terrifying cycle of prostitution, violence, and intimidation,” said Attorney General Cuccinelli. “No one should have to endure the nightmare that these victims went through. It is our hope that today’s sentencing provides some peace to Barcus’ and Dumas’ victims as well as a warning to traffickers that we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Today’s sentences demonstrate the resolve of law enforcement to put an end to the exploitation of children and the trafficking of humans,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “We will continue to take steps to dismantle sex trafficking enterprises such as this one and ensure that individuals such as Mr. Barcus and Mr. Dumas pay for their deplorable actions.”

Lt. Col. Edwin C. Roessler, Jr., Acting Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, stated, “Sex trafficking is a serious crime that will not be tolerated in Fairfax County and the Police Department will aggressively fight this crime to protect our great community. On behalf of our Department and community, we thank the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia for their partnership in combating sex trafficking with us in Fairfax County and nationally. This partnership will endure to continue making Fairfax County the safest place to live, work, and visit.”

Barcus pleaded guilty on March 11, 2013, and Dumas pleaded guilty on March 18, 2013. According to court documents, around 2007, Barcus founded an enterprise that prostituted at least seven minor girls and over 23 adults in at least seven states: Virginia, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, and Tennessee. Barcus and Dumas posted advertisements on Backpage.com and sex customers would meet the victims at hotels. The venture had a litany of rules that the victims had to follow, including a rule that all of the money belonged to Barcus, Dumas, and the other pimps. Barcus fractured the nose of one victim when she retained some of the money she had earned so that she could send it to the person caring for her infant child. Yet another victim objected to being transported to Virginia to be prostituted; Dumas told that victim that she was his and that she had no choice but to be prostituted in Virginia. Still another victim was struck by Dumas after she told him she wanted to go back to school.

To ensure compliance with their rules, Barcus and Dumas used force with some of the victims, drugged other victims with a substance known as “Molly,” and threatened still other victims. Barcus, Dumas, and their co-conspirators also carried firearms to prevent competing pimps from “stealing” their girls. Sometimes Barcus would contact prostitutes who were advertised on Backpage.com, attempt to recruit them, and if they refused, would steal their money. The venture frequently relocated to ensure a steady supply of customers and to avoid detection by the police.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fairfax County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Frank and Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Barcus and Dumas were convicted of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(g) “Child exploitation enterprises,” which imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison for any who are convicted of being engaged in a child exploitation enterprise. A child exploitation enterprise includes instances where an individual sexually traffics juveniles on three or more occasions, with three or more coconspirators, and involves more than one victim.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.