Jamaican found guilty in the US for human trafficking
MIAMI, USA (CMC) — A Jamaican man has been found guilty for his role in an international sex trafficking operation.
Damion St Patrick Baston, 37, was convicted on three counts of sex trafficking — both in the United States and Australia — five counts of transporting multiple individuals for prostitution, one count of importation of an alien for prostitution and one count of using a passport secured by false statement.
Baston was also convicted on one count of aggravated identity theft and nine counts of money laundering.
In addition, he was found guilty of illegally re-entering the US after being previously deported.
According to court documents, Baston victimised seven women in the Middle East, Australia and the United States.
Baston is scheduled to be sentenced on September 5 before US District Judge Cecilia M Altonaga, who presided over the trial. He faces between 15 years and life in prison.
Six victims “bravely testified” at trial that they had been trafficked for sex beginning in 2011 in various cities, including Miami, according to the documents.
Baston had been ordered removed from the United States in the late 1990s but stole the identity of an American citizen, which he used to obtain a Florida ID card and US passport.
He used this false identity for international travel as he continued to recruit and victimize women, court records reveal.
“This case brought us halfway around the world to ensure justice for the victims,” said Alysa D Erichs, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) Miami.
