Aryion Jackson, an aspiring rapper from Houston, Texas, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex trafficking.
The judge in the case called the crimes “horrific” and struggled to come up with an appropriate sentence. During his sentencing, aspiring rapper Jackson cried and apologized to the victims and their families, asking the judge for mercy and claiming he “never had a fair chance in life.”
Jackson was arrested in December 2019 and charged with human trafficking, compelling prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, and sexual assault of a child.
According to court documents, the aspiring rapper was accused of keeping a dozen girls, some as young as 14 years old, and a woman in a Houston residence and trafficking them out for sex. According to a published article, all of the females were compelled to make $1,000 daily, and the aspiring rapper was charged with using threats, physical abuse, and coercion involving drugs to ensure that they met this requirement. One of Jackson’s victims was Kristen Galvan, 15, who went missing in January 2020 and has not been found.
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During his sentencing, Jackson cried and apologized to the victims and their families, asking the judge for mercy and claiming he “never had a fair chance in life.” However, the prosecutor stated that while awaiting trial, the aspiring rapper continued to traffic women and even smuggled drugs and cell phones into the detention center.
Jackson’s father, Steven Jackson, admitted that his son’s upbringing was troubling because both of his parents were often in and out of prison. He also revealed that Jackson’s mother, a drug-addicted prostitute, has also been charged with sex trafficking and her trial started on Wednesday.
The case of the aspiring rapper highlights the devastating impact of child sex trafficking and the need for stricter laws and tougher penalties for those involved in such crimes. It is a tragedy that so many young girls and women are forced into this industry, often with no means of escape. It is crucial that we continue to raise awareness and take action to end this horrific practice. The sentence handed down to Aryion Jackson serves as a warning that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable for their actions, and justice will be served.
