Sex trafficker who supplied prostitutes with heroin convicted after defending himself

Gary Craig | Democrat and Chronicle

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On Wednesday, admitted "pimp" Andre Barnes told a federal jury that he fed his strung-out prostitutes heroin when they wanted it because it was a wise "business investment."

On Thursday, the jury convicted Barnes, 42, of nine sex-trafficking counts, including three charges that he trafficked minors. Christopher Johnson Jr., who also trafficked prostitutes with Barnes, earlier pleaded guilty to a sex-trafficking conspiracy and is awaiting his sentencing.

"What I think was particularly troubling with Barnes and Johnson was they ... targeted girls with drug problems," Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Marangola, one of the prosecutors in the case, said after the verdicts Thursday.

The two would visit drug houses and social service operations looking for struggling addicts, in need of a fix, to transform into prostitutes, Marangola said. The two were convicted of trafficking crimes from 2012 and 2013.

When arrested in 2015 and questioned by Rochester Police Investigator Brian Tucker, Barnes described how he would physically intimidate the prostitutes, swinging punches within inches of their face. However, not all of the violence was mimicked.

"When that didn't work he actually assaulted them by punching them, kicking them, pulling their hair," Marangola said.

► Sex trafficking: It's as close as next door

Barnes' trial in federal court over the past two weeks was a mixture of tragedy — with prostitutes telling how he kept them high and sometimes treated them violently — and bizarre dark comedy, with Barnes defending himself.

Barnes chose to testify in his defense and, on Wednesday, sat before the jury and asked himself questions as if he were a third-person questioner. At one point, Barnes, the defendant, mentioned the recent death of his mother, prompting the response from Barnes, the questioner, of "Wow, I'm sorry to hear that."

At another point, he asked himself about backpage.com, the website where he advertised his prostitutes.

"Can you tell us a little bit about backpage?" asked Barnes the questioner. "Well, what do you want to know," responded Barnes the defendant.

During the trial, Barnes, who used the nickname "Shy Good'Monies," admitted that he was a "pimp" but claimed that the women and girls chose to work for him and he treated them well in return. Evidence showed that he sometimes kept half the money from the prostitution and other times kept all of the money, buying heroin for his addicted prostitutes.

Barnes described the drug purchases as a "business investment," saying this allowed the women to regain some vigor so they could beautify themselves with makeup and improved hairdos. That, in turn, helped ensure the men who paid for sex were satisfied.

"I believe you have to be able to be a quality service provider," Barnes said.

However, evidence in the trial and in court papers painted a different picture. Testimony showed that he sometimes physically assaulted the women, and even forced one pregnant woman into sex the day before she delivered a baby boy.

Barnes claimed that the sex with strangers was her choice.

"Is it your position that a woman who is nine months pregnant wants to have sex with anyone, much less strangers, to give money to you while you're playing video games," Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gestring, the second prosecutor, asked Barnes, who enjoyed video games.

The prostitutes worked at hotels across the county, sometimes having sex with as many as 10 men — from the pricier suburbs as well as low-income neighborhoods — in a day.

Barnes said he was a "preferred customer" at some hotels and was sometimes comped rooms.

Barnes faces 15 years to life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 10.

GCRAIG@Gannett.com