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Understanding Oklahoma’s Sentencing Guidelines for Human Trafficking Charges

Understanding Oklahoma’s Sentencing Guidelines for Human Trafficking Charges

Human trafficking is a serious crime that carries severe penalties in Oklahoma. If you or a loved one has been charged with human trafficking, it’s crucial to understand the state’s sentencing guidelines and potential defenses. In this article, we’ll break down Oklahoma‘s human trafficking laws, discuss the implications for defendants, and explore some possible legal strategies.

What is Human Trafficking Under Oklahoma Law?

Oklahoma defines human trafficking as “modern-day slavery that includes, but is not limited to, extreme exploitation and the denial of freedom or liberty of an individual for purposes of deriving benefit from that individual‘s labor or services.” This can include forced labor, domestic servitude, or commercial sex.The law distinguishes between human trafficking for labor and human trafficking for commercial sex:

• Human trafficking for labor means recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining another person through deception, force, fraud, threat or coercion for the purpose of forced labor; or financially benefiting from such actions.
• Human trafficking for commercial sex involves recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining another person through deception, force, fraud, threat or coercion to engage in commercial sex acts; or financially benefiting from such actions.

Oklahomalaw considers anyone under 18 who is involved in commercial sex to be a victim of human trafficking, regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion was used. This is because minors cannot legally consent to commercial sex acts.

Penalties for Human Trafficking in Oklahoma

Human trafficking convictions carry stiff penalties in Oklahoma, including lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines. The exact punishment depends on the circumstances of the case and the age of the victim.

Trafficking an Adult Victim

If the trafficking victim is 18 or older, human trafficking is punishable by:

• 5 years to life in prison, and/or
• A fine of up to $100,000

Trafficking a Minor Victim

The penalties are even more severe if the victim is a minor under 18. In these cases, human trafficking is punishable by:

• 15 years to life in prison, and/or
• A fine of up to $250,000

In addition to imprisonment and fines, the court must order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim. Restitution compensates the victim for any losses suffered, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and mental health treatment.

The 85% Rule for Human Trafficking Sentences

It’s important to note that human trafficking is considered an “85% crime” in Oklahoma. This means that a person convicted of human trafficking must serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole consideration or earned credits. So if someone is sentenced to 20 years, they‘ll serve at least 17 years before any possibility of release.The 85% rule was implemented in 2014 to ensure that human trafficking offenders serve most of their sentence behind bars. It’s one of the harshest “truth-in-sentencing” provisions in the country. By comparison, the general rule in Oklahoma is that inmates must serve at least one-third of their sentence before parole eligibility.

Defenses to Human Trafficking Charges

Despite the severity of the penalties, there are several potential defenses that may apply in a human trafficking case. Some common ones include:

• Lack of evidence – The prosecution must prove every element of the human trafficking offense beyond a reasonable doubt. If there is insufficient evidence to support the charge, the case should be dismissed. An experienced attorney can challenge weak or circumstantial evidence.
• Entrapment – Entrapment occurs when law enforcement induces a person to commit a crime that they otherwise would not have committed. For example, if an undercover officer posing as a “john” repeatedly pressures someone into arranging a commercial sex act, that could potentially be entrapment.

• Mistake of age – If the defendant reasonably believed the alleged victim was 18 or older, that can be a defense to sex trafficking of a minor. However, Oklahoma law puts the burden on the defendant to prove this by a preponderance of the evidence.
• Victim of human trafficking – Believe it or not, it’s actually an affirmative defense if the defendant was a victim of human trafficking during the time of the alleged offense. The idea is that trafficking victims are often forced to commit crimes by their traffickers. An attorney can help gather evidence to support this defense.

These are just a few examples – the appropriate defense strategy will depend on the unique facts of each case. It’s important to have an attorney thoroughly investigate all possible defenses.

Recent Human Trafficking Cases in Oklahoma

To better understand how these laws play out in practice, let’s look at a couple recent human trafficking cases in Oklahoma.In 2019, two Tulsa men were sentenced to federal prison for human trafficking. The men had recruited and transported multiple victims, including a 14-year-old, from Oklahoma to Texas to engage in commercial sex. They used violence, threats, and intimidation to control the victims. Both men received 17 year sentences and were ordered to pay restitution to the victims.In another 2019 case, an Oklahoma City man was convicted of 52 felonies, including human trafficking, after a two-week trial. Prosecutors said the man had operated a large-scale sex trafficking ring that preyed on vulnerable young women and used violence to force them into prostitution. He received a sentence of over 1,000 years in prison.These cases illustrate the complexity of human trafficking schemes and the importance of aggressive prosecution. They also show that both state and federal charges may apply, depending on the scope of the criminal activity.

The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes

Human trafficking often intersects with other criminal offenses, such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime. In fact, experts say that human trafficking has surpassed drug trafficking as the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.There’s a few reasons for this:

1. Human trafficking generates huge illegal profits for perpetrators;
2. Victims of trafficking can be exploited repeatedly, whereas drugs are sold once;
3. Trafficking convictions have been historically rare, so perpetrators perceive it as lower risk.

This means that human trafficking charges may be accompanied by other related charges, which can enhance the potential penalties. For example, under Oklahoma‘s drug trafficking laws, a person convicted of trafficking illegal drugs must serve at least 50% of their sentence before parole consideration.

The Role of Conspiracy Charges

In many large-scale human trafficking cases, prosecutors will file conspiracy charges against participants. A conspiracy doesn’t require that the illegal act was actually completed – only that there was an agreement to commit the act and some “overt act” in furtherance of the agreement.Conspiracy charges allow prosecutors to hold accountable those who played more minor roles in a trafficking operation, such as lookouts, drivers, and money launderers. It’s a way to dismantle the entire criminal network surrounding the trafficking.Oklahoma law punishes conspiracy to commit human trafficking the same as the underlying offense. So if someone is convicted of conspiracy to traffic a minor, they face the same 15 years to life sentence as the actual trafficker.

Continuing Challenges in Human Trafficking Enforcement

Despite the serious criminal penalties, human trafficking remains a major challenge for law enforcement in Oklahoma and across the U.S. There are a few reasons why:

• Victims are afraid to come forward – Many trafficking victims fear retaliation from their traffickers if they cooperate with police. They may also fear arrest for prostitution or other crimes. This makes it harder to get victim testimony.

• Traffickers are skilled at evading detection – Traffickers often move victims frequently and use coercive control tactics to conceal their crimes. They may also have a network of enablers, such as hotel staff and taxi drivers, who turn a blind eye.
• Limited resources for proactive enforcement – Investigating human trafficking is time and resource-intensive. It requires extensive surveillance, undercover operations, and coordination between agencies. Many departments lack the manpower to make it a top priority.
• Lack of public awareness – The public may not recognize the signs of human trafficking or know how to report it. This allows the crime to flourish in plain sight.

Overcoming these challenges will require a multi-faceted approach, including increased resources for law enforcement, more support services for victims, and greater public education about the realities of human trafficking.

What to Do If You’re Charged with Human Trafficking

If you’re facing human trafficking charges in Oklahoma, the most important thing is to exercise your right to remain silent and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. Trying to explain your side of the story to police will only hurt your case.Look for an attorney who has specific experience handling human trafficking cases and understands the complex legal issues involved. Be upfront with them about all the facts of your case so they can advise you properly.Your attorney can evaluate the strength of the evidence, identify any holes in the prosecution’s case, and explore all possible defenses. In some cases, they may be able to negotiate a plea bargain to a lesser offense. If the case goes to trial, they’ll vigorously represent your interests in court.Human trafficking charges may feel overwhelming, but remember – you have the right to a zealous legal defense. With the help of a skilled attorney, you can ensure your rights are protected every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the statute of limitations for human trafficking in Oklahoma?

There is no statute of limitations for human trafficking prosecutions in Oklahoma. A case can be brought at any time, even decades after the alleged conduct. However, there is a 3 year statute of limitations for victims to bring civil lawsuits for damages.

Can I be convicted of human trafficking if I didn’t know the victim’s real age?

Potentially, yes. Oklahoma’s human trafficking law does not require that the defendant knew the victim‘s age. However, if you can show by a preponderance of evidence that you reasonably believed the victim was 18 or older, that can be a defense to trafficking of a minor.

What is “coercion” in the context of human trafficking?

Oklahoma law defines coercion broadly to include threats of harm or physical restraint; any scheme intended to cause someone to believe that they or others would suffer harm or physical restraint if they didn’t perform an act; the abuse or threatened abuse of the law or legal process; knowingly destroying, concealing, or confiscating someone‘s identification documents; and using debt bondage.

Can a victim of human trafficking be charged with a crime?

Potentially, yes, but it’s rare. Oklahoma law provides an affirmative defense for trafficking victims who are charged with prostitution or other nonviolent offenses committed as a direct result of being trafficked. However, the decision of whether to prosecute is up to the discretion of the district attorney.

What services are available for human trafficking victims in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma has several organizations that provide services to trafficking victims, including emergency housing, medical care, counseling, legal assistance, and job training. These include Restore OKC, The Dragonfly Home, and the Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Victims can also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 for referrals.