Detroit Man Accused Of Running Sex Trafficking Ring, Beating Adult And Juvenile Victims
DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Detroit man is being accused of running a sex trafficking operation, according to a criminal complaint.
The FBI says that Richard Knider Jackson forced three women and two young girls to prostitute from a home on S. Electric Street in southwest Detroit. The complaint says that police arrived at the home after receiving a 911 call on Thursday.
The officers found a woman in the house who said Jackson forced her and four others -- two adults and two juveniles -- into prostitution. She said Jackson supplied them all with drugs and that he had been violent with them.
The woman said that Jackson forced the women to "walk the track" as prostitutes at Michigan Ave. and Livernois Ave., just west of the downtown area. She said he would beat the girls and give them heroin long enough to get them addicted.
The complaint says that Jackson would post the girls on Backpage.com.
Police found a large black steel gate and lock on the stairs to the second floor of the home to prevent escape.
The other two adult victims were also in the house when police arrived, but the juveniles had escaped through a bathroom window earlier in the day.
The complained says that when he was interviewed, Jackson denied being involved with prostitution and drugs, but an examination of his cell phone found discussions about sex acts, prices and locations.
Jackson appeared in federal court on Friday afternoon and was temporarily detained until his bond hearing on November 21.
The FBI is currently looking for the two juveniles who escaped from the house. Anyone with information about the two juveniles or about Jackson's sex trafficking operation is asked to call the FBI at 313-965-2323.