Federal prosecutors have indicted two men connected to a Seattle street gang on charges of using violence, threats, fraud, and coercion to traffic adult women and minors for commercial sex acts across more than a dozen states, in what authorities are describing as a modern-day slavery operation run through manipulation, physical control, and financial exploitation.
First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced the indictments involving Leanthony Palmer, 34, and Branden Barnett, 38. Palmer was initially indicted last October, and a superseding indictment returned this week added additional charges. Barnett has been in state custody since 24 November 2025 and was indicted federally this week on six counts related to trafficking both adult and minor victims.
“These men exploited vulnerable women for their own financial gain,” Floyd said. “They used their power, physical, psychological, and economic, to subject these victims to modern-day slavery. We are determined to obtain justice and ensure the safety of these victims and all members of our community.”
According to the superseding indictment, Palmer is accused of using force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to sex traffic at least three adult victims. Prosecutors allege he also conspired to transport victims across Washington, Alaska, Oregon, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Massachusetts, Montana, Minnesota, Texas, and other locations including foreign countries for the purpose of commercial sex acts. The nine-count indictment against Palmer also includes conspiracy to commit money laundering using proceeds from the alleged trafficking scheme.
Barnett faces a six-count indictment that includes conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, threats, fraud, or coercion; sex trafficking an adult woman through force and coercion; conspiracy to transport an adult victim for prostitution; transporting an adult woman for prostitution through coercion and enticement; and two counts of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.
Both indictments describe a pattern of control maintained through violence or threats of violence, the provision or denial of drugs, and the withholding of food and shelter. Prosecutors allege women were bought and sold between traffickers, and that the men used off-the-books rooms at a SeaTac motel to isolate victims or facilitate sex dates. The indictments further allege the men dictated what victims were to charge for sex acts, controlled who they could speak to, and required them to hand over all of their earnings. Victims were transported to Aurora Avenue North in Seattle and other locations to meet potential buyers.
Investigators say the men obtained fraudulent identification documents to make travel easier and avoid detection by law enforcement, and used false identities to secure rental properties and vehicles used in the trafficking operation.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion confirmed her office has filed related cases in Superior Court. If convicted on the federal charges, both men face mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years to life in prison.
The case is being pursued as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established to target criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organisations, and human trafficking and smuggling operations across the United States.
