El Paso gang member sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking
Another gang member is sentenced to life, and another faces up to life in prison when he’s sentenced
EL PASO — A local gang member was sentenced Friday to 20 years in federal prison for sex trafficking.
This sentence was announced by the following agency heads: Acting U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin Jr., Western District of Texas; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez; and FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.
Emanuel Lockhart, 24, was sentenced June 26 by U.S. District Judge Philip R. Martinez to 240 months in prison for sex trafficking, a $2,500 fine and supervised release for 10 years after he completes his prison term.
On Jan. 16, jurors found Lockhart and the following three other gang members guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking:
- Richard Gray, 25;
- Deion Lockhart, 26; and
- Timothy McCullouch Jr., 29, a former El Paso County juvenile probation officer.
"While ICE has vast mission responsibilities, nothing is more immediate than rescuing the women and girls who are sex trafficked against their will," said Waldemar Rodriguez, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. "There will be no refuge for criminals involved in such sinister activities. HSI remains vigilant to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Testimony during trial revealed that between May 2012 and March 2013, the defendants, members from Folk Nation/Gangster Disciples street gang, were involved in the forced prostitution of juveniles and adults. The defendants used a combination of force, fraud and coercion to compel their victims to engage in sexual activities for money in El Paso and Killeen, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Las Vegas, Nevada; and in Colorado.
Judge Martinez sentenced Richard Gray and Deion Lockhart June 25 to life imprisonment and 300 months imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the sex trafficking scheme. McCullouch faces up to life in federal prison when he is scheduled to be sentenced June 29.
This investigation was conducted by the ACTeam (Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team) comprised of personnel from HSI; FBI; and U.S. Department of Labor; along with the El Paso Police Department’s Gang Unit; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rifian Newaz and Robert Almonte, Western District of Texas, are prosecuting this case.
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