Kevin Pinnock Posted Advertisements Online for Women he Forced to Engage in Commercial Sex
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ashan M. Benedict, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), and Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today that KEVIN PINNOCK, a/k/a “Kev Savage,” a/k/a “Sav,” pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts to using the internet to facilitate sex trafficking, possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possessing stolen identification documents.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Kevin Pinnock used violence and coercion to force women to engage in commercial sex for his own profit. With Kevin Pinnock’s guilty plea today, we seek to deliver justice to victims of sex trafficking and other forms of commercial exploitation and to deter others from engaging in this profoundly harmful criminal conduct. Protecting the public from sex trafficking crimes remains a top priority for us and our law enforcement partners.”
ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan M. Benedict said: “Kevin Pinnock was allegedly involved in a multitude of criminal activities, which included using a firearm to protect his position on the street as a dealer in narcotics. Through the efforts of the Agents and Detectives of the ATF/ NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force (JFTF) working alongside Agents of HSI, Kevin Pinnock will be forced to contemplate his alleged crimes while serving a substantial sentence in prison. I would like to thank all of the law enforcement agencies that worked collaboratively to further this case. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the United States Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting the case.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said: “This man admitted his guilt in forcing women to perform sexual acts by threatening violence and abuse. Pinnock was in for making a profit any way he can, with his crimes becoming more brazen; from robbery and ID theft to drug dealing and sex trafficking. The plea today is only the beginning for Pinnock, who will now need to face the consequences of this actions.”
According to the Complaint, Indictment, Superseding Indictment, and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during PINNOCK’s plea proceedings:
In 2015 and 2016, PINNOCK posted online advertisements to solicit customers to engage in commercial sex with women PINNOCK forced into prostitution by violence, abuse, and coercion. PINNOCK retained virtually all of the profits from his sex trafficking business.
In at least November 2016, PINNOCK sold crack cocaine and possessed a loaded firearm, which had been stolen, in order to protect his drug dealing business. He also possessed dozens of stolen identification cards – including driver’s licenses and Social Security cards – which he sold to other individuals who were engaged in identity theft and fraud. Many of the identification cards had been obtained through the commission of robberies.
PINNOCK, 22, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested on January 5, 2017, in the Bronx, and has been in federal custody since. PINNOCK pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison to be imposed consecutively to any other sentence and a maximum sentence of life in prison; possession with intent to use or transfer five or more identification documents or authentication features, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; aggravated identity theft, which requires a two-year prison term to be imposed consecutively to any other sentence; and use of interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
PINNOCK is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Batts on September 23, 2018.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and HSI, and thanked the United States Secret Service, the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, the New York City Police Department, and the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
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