Richland County man charged with human trafficking, drug crimes, prosecutor says
A Blythewood man is facing federal charges after being arrested for human trafficking and drug crimes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
Brian Leroy Watson Jr., aka “B,” or “Lil B,” was charged with nine counts of human trafficking and attempted human trafficking, in addition to three counts of drug-related crimes, U.S. Attorney Peter McCoy said in a news release.
One of the nine people described as Watson’s victims in the indictment was a minor. In all nine instances, Watson forced the victims to engage in commercial sex acts, according to the indictment.
“Human trafficking is an egregious crime that often targets the most vulnerable among us for the profit of another,” McCoy said in the release. “It is a dark reality even here in South Carolina, and this office will not tolerate it. That is why we work not only with our law enforcement partners to uncover and prosecute those who exploit others, but with support groups within the community that offer support services to human trafficking victims and educate the public about this unconscionable practice.”
Watson was investigated by members of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.
“Human Sex Trafficking is a reality in our community,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said in the release. “Working in partnership with other law enforcement agencies and most important, the community, is the key to stopping this horrible crime.”
Watson is charged with committing human trafficking crimes against multiple victims between 2016 and 2019, according to the release.
Watson was arrested Thursday, and was also charged with distributing heroin and fentanyl, and with unlawfully operating a Blythewood residence for the purpose of storing and distributing heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
“As a reminder to parents, kidnapping is not always involved in human trafficking cases. Victims can be coerced into human trafficking by their dependency of basic needs or addiction to drugs,” Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan said in the release. “Holding your child close to you while in a crowded place is not always as important as knowing what your child does when they are away from you.”
Watson made his first court appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Shiva V. Hodges in Columbia, according to the release. He’s being prosecuted by assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels of the Columbia Office.
“Operations like these result in the release of human trafficking victims from their horrifying bondage,” said Jody Norris, the FBI special agent in charge. “The FBI thanks the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.”
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This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Richland County man charged with human trafficking, drug crimes, prosecutor says."
