DALLAS, TX - A 59-year-old man from Texas will likely spend the remainder of his days behind bars after an investigation led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) resulted in the convicted sex and drug trafficker getting a 50-year prison sentence.
On February 20th, ICE issued a press release regarding the sentencing of 59-year-old Jamal Howard, a man from the Arlington area who reportedly engaged in sex trafficking of minors, dealt fentanyl, and laundered money.
Howard was arrested back in August of 2024 following an investigation into the trafficking of a missing 15-year-old girl. The North Texas Trafficking Task Force collaborated with HSI and Arlington Police on the recovery of the child, who was reportedly rescued from an apartment complex at the time of Howard’s August 2024 arrest, with law enforcement obtaining evidence of narcotics distribution from the apartment.
Upon further investigation, authorities learned that Howard obtained the underage victim via an accomplice, 27-year-old Renaldo Rojas, back in July of 2024. Rojas had reportedly been administering fentanyl to the child and shared photos of the victim with Howard, prompting an exchange between the two where Howard gave Rojas additional fentanyl in exchange for control of the victim.
After Howard obtained the trafficked child, he reportedly began posting “commercial sex advertisements” of the underage victim online, forcing the victim into prostitution while continuing to deal narcotics.
Rojas pleaded guilty on January 15th to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distributing fentanyl to a person under 21, resulting in Rojas receiving a 30-year prison sentence.
On January 30th, Howard was sentenced to 50 years in prison on charges of sex trafficking through force and coercion, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distributing fentanyl to a person under 21, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Two additional defendants related to Howard’s narcotics ring, 63-year-old Elnora Jordan and 23-year-old Yolanda Gonzales, were also sentenced to prison for their roles related to money laundering and fentanyl distribution. Jordan received a 21-month prison sentence for conspiring to launder monetary instruments, and Gonzales received a 1-year prison sentence on narcotics purchasing and distribution charges.
HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard said of the sentence imposed on Howard, “This intensely gratifying 50-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Howard’s crimes and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect our children and our communities.”
On February 20th, ICE issued a press release regarding the sentencing of 59-year-old Jamal Howard, a man from the Arlington area who reportedly engaged in sex trafficking of minors, dealt fentanyl, and laundered money.
Howard was arrested back in August of 2024 following an investigation into the trafficking of a missing 15-year-old girl. The North Texas Trafficking Task Force collaborated with HSI and Arlington Police on the recovery of the child, who was reportedly rescued from an apartment complex at the time of Howard’s August 2024 arrest, with law enforcement obtaining evidence of narcotics distribution from the apartment.
Upon further investigation, authorities learned that Howard obtained the underage victim via an accomplice, 27-year-old Renaldo Rojas, back in July of 2024. Rojas had reportedly been administering fentanyl to the child and shared photos of the victim with Howard, prompting an exchange between the two where Howard gave Rojas additional fentanyl in exchange for control of the victim.
After Howard obtained the trafficked child, he reportedly began posting “commercial sex advertisements” of the underage victim online, forcing the victim into prostitution while continuing to deal narcotics.
Rojas pleaded guilty on January 15th to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distributing fentanyl to a person under 21, resulting in Rojas receiving a 30-year prison sentence.
On January 30th, Howard was sentenced to 50 years in prison on charges of sex trafficking through force and coercion, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distributing fentanyl to a person under 21, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Two additional defendants related to Howard’s narcotics ring, 63-year-old Elnora Jordan and 23-year-old Yolanda Gonzales, were also sentenced to prison for their roles related to money laundering and fentanyl distribution. Jordan received a 21-month prison sentence for conspiring to launder monetary instruments, and Gonzales received a 1-year prison sentence on narcotics purchasing and distribution charges.
HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard said of the sentence imposed on Howard, “This intensely gratifying 50-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Howard’s crimes and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect our children and our communities.”
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