A Bay area pimp whose minor human trafficking victims were tattooed with the same tattoo he has is headed to federal prison for nearly 20 years.

The sentencing of Darnell Bernard Edwards, 33, of Antioch, was announced this week by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert in a news release.

U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba sentenced Edwards in Fresno federal court. He had faced a minimum of 10 years.

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Took Victims to a Bakersfield Motel

According to court documents, in April and May 2019, Edwards transported two minors to the Desert Star Motel in Bakersfield for prostitution. Edwards also took the minors to other California cities and supplied them with marijuana. Edwards and his victims all had tattoos with the letter D and a crown.

Edwards’ arrest followed an investigation by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and Bakersfield police, with assistance from Antioch police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.

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Help for Trafficking Victims

Help is available for anyone being trafficked.

In the Fresno area, contact Central Valley Against Human Trafficking’s 24/7 trauma response line: (559) 500-7630, the National Human Trafficking Hotline: (888) 373-7888, or text “HELP” to “BeFree” (233733).

Click here to read a human trafficking fact sheet.