A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for sex trafficking offenses in the Eastern District of Texas. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Desnique Deshawn Herndon, aged 28, received seven life sentences from U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on June 18, 2025. In 2023, a jury convicted Herndon of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking following a five-day trial before Judge Barker. Herndon remained in custody between his trial and sentencing.
“Victimizing children through commercial sex trafficking is reprehensible and will be prosecuted vigorously in East Texas,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “We will not stand by and watch the lives of young people ruined by predators like Herndon to satisfy the wanton interests of commercial sex customers.”
Travis Pickard, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge, remarked: “Sex trafficking is one of the most appalling crimes in our society, exploiting the most vulnerable among us.”
Court information revealed that starting in 2019, Herndon trafficked multiple teenage girls for commercial sex acts using social media to recruit them with false promises of wealth. He placed them in hotels around Tyler and posted advertisements on websites showing explicit photos offering commercial sex acts.
Three co-conspirators have previously pleaded guilty for their involvement in these offenses. Malcolm Kadeem Roberts was sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison and an additional 75 years in state prison for related charges. Tavarus D. Watkins received a ten-year sentence for interstate transport of a minor for illegal sexual activity, while Patrick Lamont Cross Jr., who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, awaits sentencing on July 10, 2025.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide since May 2006.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations’ Tyler Resident Agency, North Texas Trafficking Task Force, FBI Tyler Resident Agency among others.
The prosecution team included Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Alan Jackson alongside Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Jiral.
