Dallas 'pimp' pleads guilty in child sex trafficking case

DALLAS — A Dallas man pleaded guilty this week to one count of sex trafficking children as charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in September 2015.

This guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.  This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety; both are members of the North Texas Trafficking Taskforce (NTTT).

Edric Norvell Robinson Sr., 45, of Dallas, who remains in federal custody, faces a statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.  Sentencing is set for Aug. 10 before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade.

According to documents filed in his case, from about April 7 through Aug. 19, 2014, Robinson knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored and transported a minor female, whom he caused to engage in a commercial sex act.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cara Foos Pierce, Northern District of Texas, is in charge of the prosecution.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.