Jacksonville Woman Sentenced to 35 Years for Sex Trafficking, Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine, and a Firearm Offense

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Shaquana Quenella Brookins (32, Jacksonville) to 35 years in federal prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine; and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The Court set scheduled separate hearing to determine restitution owed to two of her victims.

Brookins pleaded guilty on October 21, 2016.

According to court documents, from the summer of 2013 through late 2015, Brookins was trafficking illegal drugs, including crack cocaine, heroin, and flakka, in Jacksonville and routinely carried firearms for intimidation purposes. She also engaged in commercial sex trafficking.

In March 2014, Brookins met a woman who she began prostituting using the website Backpage.com. The victim was addicted to crack cocaine, and Brookins controlled her by exploiting her addiction. Brookins also repeatedly beat the victim in order to cause her to engage in commercial sex acts and to punish her if she stole drugs or withheld money. On several occasions, the victim attempted to escape from Brookins, but was forced by Brookins to return.

Brookins’s criminal enterprise included a driver, Victor Billy Parra, who would take the victim and others to commercial sex “dates” in exchange for crack cocaine. Parra was prosecuted in a separate case for selling crack cocaine to an undercover ATF agent and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison.

Brookins also used crack cocaine to compensate an attorney, Tomislav Golik, who represented the sex trafficking victims in various criminal cases brought against them. Golik was prosecuted in a separate case for possessing firearms while an unlawful user of crack cocaine and sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.

Brookins obtained a Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolver from Golik, which she paid for with crack cocaine. Prior to possessing the firearm, she had been convicted of four felonies, including grand theft auto, sale of cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.

“ATF’s primary focus is protecting the public by reducing violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl McCrary. “The announcement of this sentencing today means that this individual will no longer be able to hurt, harm or intimidate this community. ATF continues to aggressively pursue violent offenders and will continue to protect and serve communities with our law enforcement partners.”

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.