Five Family Members Charged with Sex Trafficking of Minors

SACRAMENTO, CA—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that yesterday a federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment charging Tynisha Marie Hornbuckle, 22; Tamrell Rena Hornbuckle, 25; Latrelle Alicia Hornbuckle, 23; Cherrelle Elizabeth Hornbuckle, 24; Tammy Rena Brown, 43; and Jacquelin Lanoise Radisha Wade, 24; all of Sacramento, with conspiring to commit sex trafficking of minors by force, fraud, or coercion and with various other charges including the sex trafficking of minors, tampering with witnesses, and making false statements relating to their sex trafficking of minors. The four Hornbuckles are sisters. Tammy Rena Brown is their mother. The defendants were arrested today.

According to the indictment, between July 31, 2008 and May 5, 2011, all of the defendants conspired to force and coerce minors to engage in commercial sex acts. During this time, the indictment alleges that all of the members of the conspiracy directed the activities of prostitutes; provided transportation to minors in furtherance of the sex trafficking activity; purchased motel rooms and allowed their residences to be used for prostitution; purchased clothing for the girls to use while they were working; and used force, the threat of force, fraud, and coercion to control the girls who worked for them.

The Hornbuckles and Brown are also charged with sex trafficking three different minor females, and using force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to cause the three females to engage in commercial sex acts. In addition, these defendants are charged with participating in a venture that profited from the sex trafficking of minors.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Innocence Lost Task Force, a task force made up of the FBI, the Sacramento Police Department, and the Sacramento County Sheriff. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of the conspiracy, the defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The sentence for sex trafficking of children is no less than 10 years and up to life in prison. The maximum statutory penalty for tampering with witnesses is 20 years in prison. The maximum statutory penalty for making a false statement is eight years in prison. Each offense carries a fine of up to $250,000. In addition, a lifetime terms of supervised release could be ordered upon a conviction for sex trafficking. The remaining convictions carry terms of supervised release of up to three years. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.