Denver man sentenced to 448 years for trafficking 4 women and 2 children

DENVER (TCD) -- A man was ordered to spend nearly 450 years in prison for trafficking multiple women and children and shooting a sex buyer in what is "believed to be the longest sentence ever given to a convicted human trafficker in United States history."

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced June 6 that a judge sentenced Robert Hawkins to 448 years in prison following his conviction in March of 18 charges, including five involving human trafficking. According to KDVR-TV, the charges also include pimping, sex assault, and exploitation.

Prosecutors said Hawkins exploited four women and two children between 2018 and 2021. He reportedly took advantage of his victims' vulnerabilities and was physically violent toward them. According to the district attorney's office, Hawkins used "threats to keep the victims under his control," and he profited "from the sale of their bodies."

The investigation into Hawkins began in December 2019, according to an affidavit. One of his victims reportedly told authorities she met with Hawkins to initially sell drugs for him, and they developed an intimate relationship. Hawkins allegedly convinced the woman to post ads for herself.

The victim told officials Hawkins would take her money and claim she owed him for having a place to stay and supplying drugs, the affidavit says. Hawkins eventually began assaulting her, threatened to kill her, and strangled her on a bed.

Hawkins' victims were allegedly "required to make a $5,000 quota to gain" his trust. One of the victims reportedly described Hawkins as "her master."

According to the affidavit, investigators learned about a 17-year-old victim in October 2020. Another minor allegedly came forward and said Hawkins began manipulating her when she was 13 years old.

Hawkins' girls reportedly had to serve him by "doing things like making him meals and making money for him through commercial sex acts."

According to an affidavit, Hawkins also shot a sex buyer in the leg on Jan. 9, 2019, after he dropped off one of his victims.

In a statement, McCann said the defendant "showed no regard for anybody but himself, taking advantage of six extremely vulnerable victims."

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