Houstonian to serve lengthy sentence for sex trafficking

HOUSTON Barry Lenard Davis, who's also known as Sir Lewis, had been convicted by a jury in March of sex trafficking of a minor, transporting of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity as well as coercion and enticement of an adult to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

On Friday, a judge sentenced Davis to 405 months on each of the first two counts of conviction and 240 months on count three, which will all be served concurrently.

During trial testimony, the jury heard how Davis lured the victims with promises of shelter, food and material possessions. Once under his influence, the victims were controlled with both physical and sexual violence and the threat of deadly repercussions if they left him.

Davis had convinced a then 16-year-old high school student, who had been reported missing, to turn to a life of prostitution. She testified she was photographed nude in seductive settings for the purpose of advertisements for prostitution posted online.

Testimony then established that Davis drove her across state lines and solicited men to have sex with her for money in a hotel in New Orleans. She said that at the time of the incidents, Davis not only knew she was 16, but also that she was pregnant. Moreover, the minor testified she feared Davis.?

The adult victim also testified at trial, recounting for the jury the numerous brutal beatings she suffered at the hands of Davis, including an incident where he broke her nose and forced her to "turn a trick" minutes later. She told the jury Davis put a gun to her head and told her that if she ever left him he would hunt her down and kill her.

Additionally, this victim described in detail the underworld of pimps and prostitutes known as "the game," including the "rules" adhered to by both pimps and prostitutes. All monies she and the minor victim earned were taken by Davis.??

This investigation as well as the experiences of law enforcement led to testimony by FBI special agents confirming not only the existence of this underworld and its "rules," but that there exists a special vocabulary commonly used among those in this illicit underworld.

Davis forced both victims to be tattooed with his name or initials, a common underworld practice known as "branding." ??

Additionally, forensic analysis of Davis's computer conducted by the Greater Houston Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory revealed pictures of both victims on his computer. Hotel records verified that Davis traveled out of state with the victims which was corroborated by photos of them in several different states.??

At the sentencing hearing Friday, the underage victim's mother testified about the hold Davis has on her daughter and how traumatic this has been for the family.

The federal charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI with the assistance of the Pasadena Independent School District Police Department.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood and Innocence Lost, a nationwide initiatives designed to protect children from online exploitation and domestic sex trafficking.?

Davis has been in federal custody since his arrest in July 2009, where he will remain to serve his sentence.??