Sex Trafficker From Philadelphia Gets 17 Years In Federal Prison

PHILADELPHIA — A member of a sex trafficking ring in Philadelphia has been hit with more than a dozen years in prison, federal authorities said.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said Rafael Robinson, 35, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison, 10 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $459,000 restitution for sex trafficking of an adult by force.

Robinson is the fourth and final member of a sex trafficking ring in West Philadelphia to be sentenced.

According to court documents, the four defendants ran a strip club, known as "Club Passions," and a brothel, known as "Passionate Touch," at a leased property in the Mill Creek section of West Philadelphia.

Along with his three co-defendants, Robinson engaged in acts of force, threats, fraud and coercion to cause a young woman referenced as "Person 1" in the second superseding indictment to engage in prostitution over the course of approximately three years, including subjecting her to repeated acts of sadistic torture.

Robinson and his co-defendant, Kevino Graham, were convicted by a jury on Feb. 5, 2016. Graham was convicted of two counts of sex trafficking by force, and attempted sex trafficking by force, and was sentenced to 100 years in prison.

Co-defendant Brian Wright pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in prison.

Co-defendant Renato Teixeira pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison.

"The crimes committed in this case were truly horrific," Romero said. "And while the victims may never fully recover from the crimes committed against them, they can rest assured that these four perpetrators have now been brought to justice. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at all levels to relentlessly investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes."