Five defendants were sentenced on Mar. 19 to a combined total of nearly 120 years in prison for their roles in a violent sex trafficking ring led by Kimani Jones, also known as Statik. Jones, age 32, received a sentence of 54 years, while his father Tremayne Lambert, also known as Bayrock and age 50, was sentenced to 30 years. Both are from Montgomery, Alabama. The court ordered Jones and Lambert to pay $1,010,926.50 and $510,850 in restitution respectively to the victims.
Three other co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty were also sentenced for their involvement. Joseph Keon Bowe of Notasulga was sentenced to over 19 years in prison and ordered to pay $3,200 in restitution; Daryle Gardner of Marbury received more than 16 years and must pay $5,000; Aleecia Scott of Dothan was given three years probation and ordered to pay $1,000.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said: “Today’s lengthy sentences reflect the heinous and depraved conduct of the defendants, who abused numerous women and girls for years. The Department of Justice is committed to rooting out sex trafficking in the United States, seeking lengthy sentences for perpetrators and obtaining restitution for survivors so they can rebuild their lives. I thank the prosecutors and law enforcement who tirelessly pursued what was right and brought this case to a just conclusion.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama said: “These defendants preyed on vulnerable individuals and subjected them to exploitation for their own profit. We hope these sentences provide a measure of justice for the victims and send a clear message that this office, along with our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue those who engage in human trafficking.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Jones led an extensive commercial sex operation over five years using violence against women and girls. He controlled where victims lived and worked, set daily earning requirements, posted online advertisements soliciting customers for commercial sex acts, provided drugs such as heroin or methamphetamine to maintain control over victims’ addictions, and used threats or physical abuse—including sexual assault—to assert dominance.
Lambert acted as an enforcer within his son’s operation while Bowe, Gardner, and Scott served as monitors or drivers enforcing rules or transporting victims. All five have prior convictions related either to firearms offenses or misprision of felony.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations along with state agencies including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and local authorities from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery Police Department.
Anyone with information about human trafficking is encouraged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
