Philly Man Convicted Of Human Trafficking, Rape, Assault: DA

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities in Philadelphia secured a conviction in major human trafficking case, according to officials.

District Attorney Larry Krasner, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit prosecutors, and Philadelphia Police Department officials Monday announced the conviction of Richard Collins, 50, of Philadelphia, on charges of trafficking in individuals, involuntary servitude, rape, aggravated assault, and strangulation.

Collins was charged and convicted following an extensive investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) Special Victims Unit (SVU) and with the brave cooperation of five adult women victims, a jury on Friday, August 9th.

He was convicted Friday, Aug. 5 by a jury, officials said.

One of the victims in this case was killed prior to trial. Three of the four surviving women testified during trial.

The trafficking investigation was opened on June 18, 2018, after one of the victims — now deceased — who was briefly at Collins’ house in Kensington fled and contacted SVU to report that three other women were being held there.

She climbed over barbed wire fencing to get help after realizing what was going on in Collins’ home. Within hours of contact with SVU, a search warrant was executed and the three victims reported by Victim 1 were recovered. Upon further investigation, a fourth victim, also a woman, was recovered.

A joint Human Trafficking Task Force investigation found that Collins preyed on victims’ opioid dependency by offering them shelter in his home and access to drugs, and then forced them to engage in commercial sex in the Kensington area.

The victims recovered by the Human Trafficking Task Force ranged in age from 20 to 28 years old, and were subjected to physical and sexual assault, as well as punishment by way of withholding of the opioids to which they were addicted, which led them to become extremely ill.

The four surviving women are currently taking steps toward recovery and are repairing their lives following the trauma inflicted upon them.

To report suspected human trafficking or to seek help, contact Philadelphia Police SVU at (215) 685-3264 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.