NORFOLK, VA—Diamond Latroy Hawkins, Jr., 39, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for transporting women for prostitution.

Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Norfolk Field Office; and James A. (Jim) Cervera, Chief of Police, Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Raymond A Jackson.

Hawkins pled guilty on October 16, 2014. According to court documents, between August of 2009 and April of 2014, Hawkins was a pimp who prostituted multiple women in Virginia and Florida, as well as other locations. Hawkins would recruit these women to work for him and, once they agreed, he took all the money they made and kept control over their movements through physical violence, threats of harm to them and their families, and protracted sexual and verbal abuse. In March 2013, Hawkins forced a group of his prostitutes to move to Florida with him in the hopes of getting better rates for their services.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Yusi and V. Kathleen Dougherty prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:14cr98.