Woman pleads guilty to sex trafficking by force

Shaquana Brookins also pleads guilty to drug, weapons charges

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 31-year-old Jacksonville woman pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, as well as drug and weapons charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said.

Shaquana Brookins faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison.

Brookins was trafficking illegal drugs, including crack cocaine, heroin, and flakka, in Jacksonville and routinely carried firearms for intimidation purposes from summer 2013 through late 2015, according to the plea agreement. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Brookins also engaged in commercial sex trafficking.

Brookins met around March 2014 a woman with the initials D.C., who began working for Brookins in the commercial sex industry, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

D.C. was addicted to crack cocaine and Brookins controlled D.C. by exploiting her addiction. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Brookins repeatedly beat D.C. in order to cause her to engage in commercial sex and to punish her if she stole drugs or withheld money.

D.C. attempted to escape on several occasions from Brookins, but was forced by Brookins to return, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Brookins's criminal enterprise included a driver who would take D.C. and others to commercial sex "dates" in exchange for crack cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Brookins also used crack cocaine to compensate an attorney who represented D.C. and another sex trafficking victim in various criminal cases brought against the victims.

Brookins obtained a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver from the attorney, which she paid for with crack cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Brookins was previously convicted of four felonies, and therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Brookins and several co-conspirators distributed at least 200 grams of crack cocaine as part of their conspiracy during this time.

In addition to pleading guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, Brookins also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine base, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.