HOUSTON — A man who called himself the "king of Bissonnet" has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for sex trafficking four women by force and traveling across state lines for prostitution, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Larry Lewis, 48, was convicted of using physical force to coerce four women into prostitution on Bissonnet Street, as well as in other Texas and Louisiana cities.
"Today, the victims of Lewis's abhorrent crimes have finally received the answer they have been waiting to hear for years," said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. "The message the court delivered in its sentence is clear: traffickers do not get to profit from the sale of victims' bodies."
The DOJ said Lewis promised the women good money and a good life, but ultimately made them completely dependent on him. Lewis reportedly took the IDs of two of the women and tightly controlled access to each of their hotel rooms. They were required to give Lewis the money they made from prostitution.
According to the DOJ, the women had to follow Lewis' rules and if they didn't, he would physically harm them. In on instance, he reportedly kicked a victim in the head because he thought she disrespected him. In another incident, he used an electrical cord to whp that same victim after she tried to escape.
Another victim said Lewis broke her ribs and left her bruised after several beatings.
After his 40-year sentence, Lewis will be under supervised release for an additional 10 years.