Pimp Known as "Candyman" (CHESIRE MARTINEZ ROBINSON, 30) Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of a Minor

ATLANTA—CHESIRE MARTINEZ ROBINSON, a/k/a “Candyman,” 30, of Austell, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge J. Owen Forrester for conspiracy to engage in, and the commission of, sex trafficking of a minor and transporting a minor in interstate commerce for prostitution.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This office has made it a priority to expose the segment of the illegal sex industry that victimizes children and other vulnerable persons in our community. For nearly two months, this predator sexually exploited a 16-year-old girl for his financial gain. The crime he committed deserves the 17-year prison sentence imposed on him by the court.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, said, “In an effort to combat the many facets of human trafficking, to include those who traffic minor children within the sex trade industry, the FBI’s focus is on the victim as well as those who are primarily exploiting them. This defendant repeatedly exploited a minor child by serving as the minor child’s ‘pimp’ within the commercial sex trade industry and displayed a disregard for this child and for the law in the name of greed. The FBI urges anyone with information regarding human trafficking matters, to include the commercial sexual exploitation of children to contact their nearest FBI Field Office.”

ROBINSON was sentenced to 17 years and five months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14,440, and ordered to register as a sex offender. He was convicted of the charges on September 14, 2011, after a jury trial which lasted three days.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the indictment, and information presented in court: In or about July 2009, and continuing through on or about October 2, 2009, ROBINSON, a convicted felon, caused the victim, a 16-year-old girl, to engage in prostitution at various hotels and at a truck stop in the Atlanta area. ROBINSON brought the victim, who he knew to be a minor, from her home in South Carolina to the Atlanta area. He placed photographs of the victim in escort and erotic services sections of various Internet websites, and used those ads to recruit men to engage in commercial sex acts with the victim. The victim worked for ROBINSON six nights per week for numerous hours each night, giving all of her money to ROBINSON. During a mere eight weeks, ROBINSON earned more than $14,000 from the victim’s commercial sex acts.

The investigation and prosecution of human trafficking is a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office. On August 1, 2011, the United States Attorney’s Office hosted a Human Trafficking Summit at Georgia State University for over 400 participants, including law enforcement, service providers, families, victims, and community groups. The goal of the Summit was to provide training, share information, network, and raise awareness of the issue. The agenda and highlights of the Summit can be found at: www.justice.gov/usao/gan/community/humantrafficking/index.html.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force, with valuable assistance provided by the Douglas County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. and Nekia S. Hackworth prosecuted the case.

For further information, please contact Sally Quillian Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/press/2011/12-05-11.html