A Dallas man turned hundreds of women into sex slaves in a massive trafficking operation that spanned seven years and sent victims from New York to Hawaii, according to federal prosecutors.
Tremont Blakemore, 40, created an “environment of paranoia” among women he forced into prostitution, demanding they earn as much as $1,000 a day and forcing several to tattoo his street name — “Macknificent” — on their bodies.
Blakemore allegedly “slapped, punched, choked, and kicked his victims, and occasionally burned them with cigarettes,” according to a statement released Wednesday by the US attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Prosecutors said he body-slammed one woman into an air conditioning unit when she said she wanted to leave the operation and raise a family.
“I’m going to make an example out of someone soon,” Blakemore said in a group text to the women. “I will not continue to tolerate disrespect that’s one of my biggest pet peeves.”
In another text, he said “we need to be bringing in 100k a week,” and said “those don’t like working need day jobs.”
Blakemore would also book the women on flights, sending them to customers around the country.
He was first indicted on state charges in 2018, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported at the time.
The case prompted a federal investigation involving several agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security and the Dallas police department.
If convicted of the federal charges, Blakemore could face life in prison.