CEDAR RAPIDS – A man who transported two minor girls from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Iowa for purposes of having them engage in prostitution was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Robert Jackson, age 32, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received the prison term after a November 5, 2013, guilty plea to one count of transporting minors across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
At the guilty plea hearing, Jackson admitted that on July 16, 2013, he transported two females from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the purpose of having them engage in prostitution. The girls were each under 18 years of age at the time.
At the sentencing hearing, the government proved one girl was 15 years old, and the other 17 years old, at the time of the offense. The evidence showed that Jackson threatened to kill the 15 year-old child and her family if she ever attempted to leave him. On one occasion when both girls left him for a time, Jackson beat the 15 year-old with a belt and raped her, and beat the 17-year-old in her face with his fists. Jackson had both girls engage in prostitution in Milwaukee and Iowa, and kept the money they earned. The evidence further showed that he coerced by threats and force both girls to travel to Iowa for purposes of prostitution. The evidence disclosed that Jackson later bragged to other inmates about using force and sexual abuse of the girls to keep them in line and control them as his prostitutes.
Jackson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. Jackson was sentenced to life in prison. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This defendant preyed on vulnerable young girls and exploited them for prostitution,” said United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau. “The underground nature of human trafficking makes it hard to fight and it can be especially dangerous for young people and disadvantaged kids in both big cities and rural areas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate human trafficking, as well as working with our local non-governmental, community-based and faith-based organizations to identify, rescue and assist victims of trafficking.”
Jackson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney C.J. Williams and was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Intelligence, and the Marion Police Department, with the assistance of the Milwaukee Human Trafficking Task Force.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
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12 thoughts on “Wisconsin pimp who brought girls to Iowa gets life in prison”
I don’t think he should of got Life because its other cases out here with way more things being done and most of it was lies that the girls was telling just to get there selfs out of I think a sentence of 15 years would of been suitable.
Life in prison??? I do not want to pay for this reject for the rest of his life. Bring back capital punishment and put him down like the animal he is is.
Two counts of kidnapping (pretty much)
Transportation of minors across state lines for unlawful purposes
Sex trafficking minors
Across state lines (once again)
Life in prison is too nice, take him out behind the chemical shed.
I thought that Steve King was a rear occurrence but this sentence by this judge shows me that Iowa has a disproportional amount of bucket heads in powerful political positions. Murderers and rapist don’t get life. This sentence is going to cost the state more money to justify and defend that if he gave him a sentence that fit the crime. These men are making Iowa look like it in inhabited by a bunch people who still marry their sisters.
Yes, you are seeing the point here. Punishments must fit the crime. Life in Prison is essentially a death sentence. This man is heinous, absolutely…rotten to the core. He raped a girl, used threat and coercion and beat them them…however: THEY ARE STILL ALIVE…and they had plenty of time and opportunities to escape and get help. It wasn’t like he was holding them in a dungeon. People kill others and get out sooner. I’d say 25 years in Federal system would have been correct.
The idea here is 1. Deterrence, 2. Punishment, 3. Rehabilitation (if possible). Handing down a sentence of ‘Life Without Parole’ means this crime was the worst of the worst. It must be considered worst than an armed bank robber who holds hostages, and shoots someone and kills them while fleeing, worst than stealing millions of dollars from investors, worst than driving drunk and killing several people, worst than getting in a fight and killing someone (2nd degree or manslaughter).
Uh, yeah this is a heinous crime, but this sentence is draconian and way over the top…probably unconstitutional. His lawyers definitely will be appealing this…all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. No life was taken, therefore life without parole is not fitting for a sentence. Fire the judge as well.
Hey dipshit, you have any teenaged daughters?
No kids. No job. No home of his own… but you should heed his advice because he knows what he is doing… I guess.
Peter, the mandatory sentence for 1st Degree Kidnapping is life without parole.
The sentence for taking someone away and holding them against their will is taking the offender away and holding them against their will for life. Draconian? No.
It should be worse than, not “worst than.”