{"id":48950,"date":"2022-02-09T15:42:39","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T23:42:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=48950"},"modified":"2022-02-09T15:42:39","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T23:42:39","slug":"sex-trafficking-leader-aka-light-bright-controlled-young-woman-with-violence-and-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=48950","title":{"rendered":"Sex Trafficking Leader, aka “Light Bright,” Controlled Young Woman with Violence and Drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MARYLAND<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Joshua Lankford, aka \u201c20-20,\u201d aka \u201cLight Bright,\u201d aka \u201cYellow,\u201d 33, of Manchester, Maryland, plead guilty in federal court on Wednesday to kidnapping in relation to a sex trafficking conspiracy, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lankford and the government have agreed that, if the court accepts the plea agreement, Lankford will be sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. <\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake scheduled sentencing for April 29.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to his guilty plea, from Oct. 25, 2018, to Oct. 30, 2018, Lankford led and organized a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and to commit kidnapping, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The evidence indicated that Lankford recruited the victim, a young adult woman, to engage in prostitution under fraudulent pretenses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lanford knew that the victim was addicted to heroin and withheld drugs from her when she did make enough money for him to engage in commercial sex.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When the victim attempted to escape, Lankford and his three co-defendants drove the victim to a rural road on Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore where they beat, whipped and choked her with a belt, and then drove her to a hotel in Delaware to engage in prostitution, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of Lankford\u2019s co-defendants have already pleaded guilty for their participation in this crime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSex trafficking is a horrific crime that deprives some of the most vulnerable people in our society of their freedom and dignity,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department\u2019s the Civil Rights Division. \u201cThis defendant preyed on a vulnerable young woman and cruelly exploited her for his profit.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis case is a prime example of the horrendous realities surrounding human trafficking and why our office works fiercely to combat it,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. \u201cLankford took advantage of an at-risk woman\u2019s drug addiction and her desire to be reunited with her son to lure her into a dehumanizing sex trafficking trap. He then intended to kill her to undermine the federal prosecution of his crimes at trial.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoshua Lankford\u2019s crimes are nothing short of horrific; he kidnapped and victimized a vulnerable woman then plotted to kill her in order to save himself,\u201d said Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore. \u201cFortunately, he will now face the consequences of his actions. HSI Baltimore is proud to have partnered with the Maryland State Police, the Delaware State Police, and the Federalsburg Police Department to bring Lankford to justice.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Lankford was arrested two days later and informed officers that he deleted the contents of his cell phone in anticipation of his apprehension. <\/span><\/p>\n

While incarcerated, Lankford told a co-conspirator that he intended to kill the victim to prevent her from testifying against them at trial, according to authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Report suspected instances of human trafficking and sex trafficking to HSI’s tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its\u00a0online tip form.<\/a>\u00a0Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MARYLAND Joshua Lankford, aka \u201c20-20,\u201d aka \u201cLight Bright,\u201d aka \u201cYellow,\u201d 33, of Manchester, Maryland, plead guilty in federal court on Wednesday to kidnapping in relation to a sex trafficking conspiracy, officials stated….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-federal-court"],"yoast_head":"\nSex Trafficking Leader, aka "Light Bright," Controlled Young Woman with Violence and Drugs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"MARYLAND Joshua Lankford, aka \u201c20-20,\u201d aka \u201cLight Bright,\u201d aka \u201cYellow,\u201d 33, of Manchester, Maryland, plead guilty in federal court on Wednesday to\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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