54°
Earlier this year, Kenika Danielle Leach, 33, was charged following a two-year multi-agency investigation, which helped the AG's Organized Crime Unit to identify nearly a dozen women from Hagerstown who were allegedly trafficked by her and her organization at hotels and motels throughout Maryland.
On Friday, the Attorney General's Office announced she has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine) and receiving the earnings of prostitution.
According to the AG, in December 2021, the Baltimore Police Department was tipped off by hospital personnel that a patient disclosed being a victim of sex trafficking by Leach, specifically advising that she was taken from Washington County to Baltimore to commit commercial sex acts.
Leach received cash from the exchanges, investigators say, and the women were "compensated" with drugs. Her criminal organization dubbed itself the "Pussy Kat Klub."
Local, state, and federal officials launched an investigation that led to the identification of 10 other alleged sex trafficking victims who were taken from Hagerstown to hotels in the Baltimore and Anne Arundel County area.
"“Individuals who engage in sex trafficking often exploit people struggling with addiction, manipulating them through a destructive cycle of drug use, shame, and abuse,” Attorney General Anthony Brown said.
“In this case, my office secured justice for the victims trapped in this vicious cycle, offering them a path toward healing and the opportunity to reclaim their lives.”
They added that by giving them drugs, Leach "created a dynamic within which the women became indebted to her for a 'drug debt,' which they were then forced to repay by engaging in commercial sex apps, which were paid to her through applications.
The indictment further alleges that Leach used physical violence to coerce and control the women.
"When Leach intended to physically assault the women as punishment for disobeying her rules, she would order them to 'get on the wall' and cover their faces so she could batter them without impacting their physical appearance," prosecutors continued.
"Leach also used intimidation and manipulation to coerce the women to remain obedient and loyal to her."
Brown added: "Sex trafficking is a horrific crime that often preys on people struggling with the disease of drug addiction, exploiting their dependency to coerce and control them.
"The lasting harm to survivors is profound - it's physically and psychologically traumatic and shatters the sense of security and self-worth."
Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mount Airy-Woodbine and receive free news updates.
