FOLLOW US

Tremont Blakemore called himself Macknificent. The now 43-year-old lived a lavish lifestyle and flaunted his wealth. He also ran a large-scale violent trafficking ring and brutalized the women that he forced to engage in sex for his profit. 

 On Thursday the self-styled pimp and “playa” was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown. Blakemore has also been ordered to turn over several Rolex watches and thousands of dollars worth of diamond and gold jewelry.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham said, “This defendant systematically brutalized his victims, convincing them that they had no choice but to live life according to his dictates.”

 “We formed the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement, dedicated to ending the scourge of human trafficking to pursue cases just like this one. We hope that today’s sentence will be a balm to survivors as they work to rebuild their lives,” Meacham added.

"Tremont Blakemore can no longer flaunt a life of luxury through the proceeds he illegally garnered by forcing women into the commercial sex trade industry. Thanks to the work of our special agents and law enforcement partners of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force who investigated and arrested this violent criminal," HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr said. 

Macknificent victims come forward

Blakemore pled guilty to running the human trafficking organization. And admitted to using the “threat of grotesque violence” to force women to engage in commercial sex acts.

According to victim statements, Macknificent trafficked hundreds of women across the United States between 2011 and 2018. When his enterprise was shut down in 2018 more than 20 women were working for him.

Blakemore cultivated an “environment of paranoia.”  No one was allowed to break his “rules.” The woman could not leave the house without his permission. They were not allowed to keep any money for themselves. And demanded constant updates from the victims he forced into the trafficking business. 

He meted out severe physical punishment to anyone who broke the “rules” or he believed were “keeping secrets.”  And he was violent when anyone tried to leave his organization.

He beat the women often. He would slap, punch, choke, and kick his victims. And would sometimes burn the women with cigarettes.

When one victim said she wanted to leave the Macknificent organization she was body-slammed into an air conditioning unit. This left her bruised, bloodied, and with severe back injuries. 

The victim later reported to agents she believed Blakemore wanted to “make an example” of her in front of the other victims. So, they wouldn’t get any ideas about escaping.

He compelled the women to travel cross-country to engage in the illicit trade.

He also appointed some “group leaders” to manage the trafficking business by posting commercial sex advertisements online on sites like Backpage.com. And booking the women’s travel to meet clients for sex. The Dallas-based victims were forced to travel to New York, Hawaii, and other areas.