Colorado pimp sentenced to 472 years in prison, believed to be longest in U.S. for sex trafficking

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. – The leader of a Colorado sex trafficking ring on Tuesday received a 472-year prison sentence in what prosecutors believe is the longest human trafficking sentence ever handed down by a judge in the United States.

Brock Franklin, 31, received the sentence after a jury found him guilty in March of 30 counts that included violations under Colorado’s Organized Crime Control Act, charges of pimping a child, human trafficking and sex assault.

The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said the trafficking involved children and adults, and said prosecutors had worked with three girls and five women who were victims. An additional victim also came to light after the original indictment.

In late October, a judge determined that Franklin was a habitual offender, which led to sentencing enhancers kicking in.

“He took so much from me, and I’m still fighting to get it back,” one of the victims told the judge during sentencing. “You have no idea the damage he has caused to the other women and myself.”

Six others aside from Franklin were originally indicted in the case. Ralph Jones had charges against him dismissed, and five others have since pleaded guilty to various crimes relating to the case. Some received deferred sentences, while others were sent to prison.

Prosecutors had originally asked the judge to sentence Franklin to 616 years, but a spokesperson for the DA’s Office said they were “satisfied” with the sentence handed down.

District Attorney George Brauchler said the sentence was “a clear message that Colorado is closed to the business of human trafficking.”

“The court recognized that ever one of these brave victims deserves justice, and this sentence reflects that,” Brauchler said.

Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, whose office helped prosecute the case, said the victims in the case were “incredibly brave” and said she was “grateful they can now feel safer knowing that [Franklin] will stay in prison for the rest of his life.”