Two charged with sex trafficking by force – one defendant remains at large

PHILADELPHIA – Two men, one from Georgia, the other from California, were charged today with sex trafficking and related crimes, announced U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain.

Kashamba John, 30, of Atlanta, and Tyler Robert Bachtel, 34, of Montclair, California, were charged today by indictment with one count of sex trafficking by means of force, threats of force, fraud and coercion (Count One). John was additionally charged with one count of transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that the individual engage in prostitution (Count Two).

Bachtel remains at large. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact local law enforcement or the ICE tip line at 866-DHS-2-ICE.

“The victims of sex trafficking pay a price that lasts a lifetime,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “We have to do everything possible to find the offenders and bring them to justice.”

If convicted of sex trafficking, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years’ imprisonment up to a possible sentence of life imprisonment, a minimum of five years up to lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.  In addition, on Count Two, John faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment as well as up to three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Melanie Babb Wilmoth and Michelle Morgan.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed

innocent unless and until proven guilty.