By Khalida Sarwari
Two men who pleaded guilty to felony human trafficking last week are scheduled to receive a prison sentence later this month, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
Timothy Richardson and Robert Hendricks pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to two counts of human trafficking. Richardson will receive a prison sentence of six years and four months, while Hendricks will receive a three-year prison sentence, according to the district attorney’s office.
Hendricks was immediately arrested following an investigation by the Santa Clara Police Department, which revealed that he had met both adult female victims last November in Lake Tahoe.
According to the district attorney’s office, the women went along with Hendricks and another person, believing that they were going to Reno, Nev. Hendricks instead drove to Oakland and forced the women into acts of prostitution over the next several weeks before selling them to Richardson, who continued to force the women to commit acts of prostitution, according to the district attorney’s office.
The victims were often separated and endured abuse, according to the district attorney’s office. One of the women was forced to commit acts against her will and the other woman’s life was endangered.
One of the victims found a way to contact a family member who relayed the information to Santa Clara police. Officers then rescued the victims and arrested Hendricks.
In June, Richardson was caught and arrested in Washington.
In a prepared statement, District Attorney Dolores Carr said victims of human trafficking suffer greatly.
“This prosecution delivers the message that this type of predator belongs in prison,” Carr said.
Richardson and Hendricks will be sentenced on Aug. 28.