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.
