Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Minor by Force

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty today to forcibly sex trafficking a minor.

According to court documents, Justin Shayne Robinson, 26, lured the 16-year-old victim to a motel in northern Virginia. Once the minor victim arrived, Robinson directed photos to be taken of the minor, and created online advertisements for commercial sex acts with the minor. Robinson and his co-conspirator, Markus Jakeem Plummer, 27, of Woodbridge, then prostituted the minor over a period of roughly a week. Robinson and Plummer took all the proceeds of the minor’s commercial sex acts for their own benefit.  Robinson and Plummer kept watch over the minor to ensure that she continued to see clients and was unable to escape. Robinson used violence to force the victim to continue working for him, including choking her, leaving medically documented bruising on her leg and neck.

Robinson pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, or coercion, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on April 27. Plummer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic a minor by force, fraud or coercion on January 12, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on April 13.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge, Washington Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Russell is prosecuting the case.

The Fairfax County Police Department and Prince William County Police Department provided significant assistance during this investigation.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-310.