Police Department

Human Trafficking

Sgt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 11:58 a.m.

Suspect pleads guilty and is sentenced to 120 months for two counts of 1^st Degree Promoting Prostitution.

On November 10^th, 2020 Jerry Roberts (39) pled guilty in state court to two counts of 1^st Degree Promoting Prostitution and was sentenced to 120 months.  He also pled guilty to 2^nd Degree Promoting Prostitution and received 60 months to run concurrent to the 120 months.

Below are summaries of the investigations:

January 21^st, 2020 (#2020-20012081):

Roberts was contacted on when he transported a minor female to an undercover human trafficking operation conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force.  Further investigation revealed Roberts was actively trafficking two minor victims.  He was charged and arrested for two counts of Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

August, 2018 (#2018-20166840):

Roberts was in custody on an unrelated charge.  He was communicating with an adult female from jail, directing her to prostitute herself in order to raise bail money for him.  Further investigation conducted by the SPD Human Trafficking Unit revealed Roberts had a history of actively trafficking the victim.  He was charged and arrested for one count of 2^nd Degree Promoting Prostitution.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force consists of investigators from the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.  The Child Exploitation Task Force is supported by Task Force Officers assigned to the FBI’s Safe Street Task Force.

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