6 charged in first King County case using human-trafficking law

Six alleged members of a West Seattle street gang have been charged in connection with the forced prostitution of women and juveniles. One of them is charged under a 6-year-old law that specifically targets human trafficking.

Investigators believe members of a gang called the Westside Street Mobb forced 12 women and girls to perform sex acts for money, beat them and took the money they earned over several months last year, according to charges filed in King County Superior Court.

The Legislature in 2003 passed a law that criminalized human trafficking — recruiting, transporting or harboring a person with the understanding he or she would be forced by fraud or coercion into involuntary servitude.

This is the first time King County has charged anyone under the law.

Washington was the first state to make trafficking a state crime.

DeShawn Clark, an 18-year-old who also goes by "Cash" or "Cash Money," was charged in November with promoting prostitution and other charges. Prosecutors added the charge of second-degree human trafficking Friday.

Clark has pleaded not guilty and his trial is scheduled to begin in May.

Thomas L. Foster, 19, was also charged in November, and several other members were charged with various related counts Friday, including Shawn S. Clark, 20; Gerald Jackson, 21; Mycah Johnson, 19; and Desmond Manago, 20.

According to charging papers, the arrests stem from a November sting operation in which members of the Seattle police vice unit arrested a 19-year-old woman who had advertised sex services on Craigslist.

The woman said DeShawn Clark forced her to commit sex acts for money, beat her and took her earnings, charging papers said.

The woman led police to other women who investigators believe were forced into prostitution, charging papers said.

The King County Sheriff's Office had separately started investigating Shawn S. Clark and Gerald Jackson in September and the two agencies began sharing information, according to charging papers.

The women claimed they were forced to work at a hotel in Portland, hotels in Seattle and Tukwila and at a basement apartment in the 10400 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive South, charging papers said.

Investigators say the gang, which is affiliated with the Bloods, has 20 to 30 members involved in robbery, drug sales, weapon possession and aggravated assaults, according to charging papers.

Charges against DeShawn Clark now include second-degree human-trafficking, first-degree promoting prostitution, two counts of promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and drug possession.

Foster has pleaded not guilty to two counts of promoting prostitution and second-degree assault.

Shawn S. Clark, Jackson and Manago were charged with promoting prostitution.

Johnson was charged with promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com