Detroit Man Charged with Sex Trafficking

A 67 year-old Detroit man was taken into custody after a criminal complaint was filed in federal court charging him with sex trafficking, announced United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.     

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Chief James Craig, Detroit Police Department.

Richard Knider Jackson was charged in the complaint.

The criminal complaint alleges that on November 17, 2016, a 911 call was placed to the Detroit Police Department regarding a home on South Electric Street in Southwest Detroit. When police arrived, they found a woman who reported that Jackson had forced her and four others—2 adults and 2 juveniles—to prostitute from the home. She said that Jackson provided all of them with drugs, and that he was violent with them. Police also found a large black steel gate and lock on the stairs to the upstairs of the residence. The other two adult victims were present in the home when police arrived, but the juveniles had escaped through a bathroom window earlier in the day. They have not been recovered, and their whereabouts are unknown.

Jackson made his initial appearance this afternoon in federal court and was temporarily detained until his bond hearing on Monday, November 21 at 1pm.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime.  Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The FBI is currently looking for the two juveniles who had escaped from the house.  Anyone with information about the juveniles, or with information about Jackson’s sex trafficking operation, is asked to contact the FBI at (313) 965-2323