Manassas Gang Member Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

A Manassas man was sentenced in federal court Thursday to 168 months—14 years—in prison for sex trafficking of a juvenile female in Northern Virginia. 

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia’s office announced the sentencing Thursday for , also known as “Criminal,” 21, of Manassas.

“Jamaica, better known as ‘Criminal,’ is a SUR-13 gang member who preyed on a vulnerable 14 year old girl.  After luring her into his apartment, he sexually abused her, physically assaulted her, and then made money by prostituting her to a stranger,” said U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride in a release.  “My office has charged 11 Northern Virginia gang members with juvenile sex trafficking and will continue our zero tolerance policy against all human traffickers. Today’s conviction sends a strong message that we will put away anyone who sexually exploits children in this District, even a single time.”

Assistant director James McJunkin said that “trafficking and prostitution of a child is one of the most horrific and despicable crimes to investigate.” 

“This case represents the great working relationships between federal and local law enforcement- working with the U.S. Attorney’s to ensure we have solid cases to prosecute these offenders who prey on the weak,” said Manassas Police Chief Douglas Keen in a release.

Peter Carr, public information officer for the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia’s office, said Jamaica is the first SUR-13 gang member to be convicted of child sex trafficking in the Eastern District of Virginia. 

“Virginia has charged and convicted members of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (“MS-13”) international street gang and the Underground Gangster Crips gang with the sex trafficking of juveniles,” said Carr in a release. “This prosecution is also noteworthy in that, unlike other recent juvenile sex trafficking cases successfully prosecuted in this District, Jamaica prostituted the victim on only one known occasion, yet the United States Attorney’s Office successfully secured a conviction for child sex trafficking.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, with assistance from the Prince William County Police Department, the Manassas City Police Department and the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force.  

Related Content: