In El Paso today, Folk Nation/Gangster Disciples member Richard Gray received three concurrent life sentences for federal sex trafficking violations announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.

This morning, United States District Judge Philip R. Martinez sentenced Gray to life in federal prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of persons; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; and, sex trafficking of children. Judge Martinez also sentenced Gray to the statutory maximum ten years in federal prison for transportation for prostitution.

This afternoon, Judge Martinez sentenced 26-year-old co-defendant Deion Lockhart to three concurrent terms of 300 months in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of persons; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; and, aiding and abetting sex trafficking of children.

On January 16, 2015, jurors returned guilty verdicts against Gray and Lockhart plus two other gang members: 24-year-old Emmanual Lockhart and 29–year-old former El Paso County juvenile probation officer Timothy McCullouch, Jr. Jurors convicted Lockhart and McCullouch of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of persons. Jurors also convicted McCullouch of one count of sex trafficking of children.

Testimony during trial revealed that between May 2012 and March 2013, the defendants were involved in the forced prostitution of juveniles and adults by the Folk Nation/Gangster Disciples street gang. The defendants used a combination of force, fraud, and coercion to compel their victims to engage in sexual activities for money in El Paso; Killeen, TX; Albuquerque, NM; Las Vegas, NV; and, in Colorado.

Emmanual Lockhart is scheduled for sentencing tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. in front of Judge Martinez. McCullouch is scheduled to be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2015. Both face up to life in federal prison.

This investigation was conducted by the ACTeam (Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team) comprised of personnel from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Department of Labor together with the El Paso Police Department Gang Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant United States Attorneys Rifian Newaz and Robert Almonte are prosecuting these defendants on behalf of the Government.