Darnell Walker, 36, and Laila Fouissi, 21, were convicted in Lee County Circuit Court on one count each of Human Trafficking today just before their jury trial was scheduled to begin. Walker was also convicted of one count of Unlawful Sexual Activity With a Minor.

The Court sentenced Walker to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years of sex offender probation. He was designated as a sexual predator. The Court sentenced Fouissi to six (6) years in prison, followed by nine (9) years of sex offender probation. She was also designated a sexual predator.

Cape Coral Police Department investigated this case. Their investigation revealed that Fouissi would befriend teenagers, introduce them to Walker, who would then force them to work in the sex industry. The victims were required to pay the defendants or else face retribution.

Fearful, some of the victims came forward to the police. The investigation found that Walker sexually abused one of the victims when she was underage and ordered her to put a gun to her own head and pull the trigger. She was released only after she turned over her ATM card to the defendants.

“This is an important sentence in our continuing fight against human sex trafficking in Southwest Florida,” said State Attorney Amira Fox. “I am proud of our partnership with the Cape Coral Police Department that has resulted in removing these dangerous predators from our community.”

Assistant State Attorney Francine Donnorummo, Chief of our Special Victim’s Unit and Assistant State Attorney Jessica Horowitz prosecuted the cases.