Centennial, CO — On Tuesday, a Colorado man convicted of sex trafficking was told he would be serving 472 years in prison, a new record for a human trafficking case in U.S. history.

In March, an Arapahoe County jury found 31-year-old Brock Franklin guilty of 30 charges, including sexual assault, child, soliciting for child prostitution and kidnapping.

Franklin sought the recruitment of young girls and women, they were then forced into prostitution. If they didn’t cooperate, they suffered physical abuse.

He and seven others were rounded up in an indictment by a statewide grand jury back in 2015. Franklin was considered the head of the human trafficking ring.

Prosecutors received cooperation from a total of eight people–three girls and five women–during the case, which was brought under Colorado’s Organized Crime Control Act.

“I can’t begin to even explain what he did to my life,” one of the victims, Breahannah Leary, said.

Franklin entered the courtroom unfazed. He sat silently as he learned his fate from the judge. One victim rose and addressed the court.

“Reading it today, and speaking and actually saying how I felt, and him having hearing and have to sit there and listen and listen to me, that brought me so much joy and that’s why I came today,” Leary said.

Sex trafficking is still a major issue.

“A 400-year sentence sends a strong message across the country that we’re not going to tolerate this kind of violence to women and vulnerable populations,” Janet Drake with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office said.

According to the indictment, the women and girls were controlled under he influence of drugs. They were required to fill a daily quota. After having sex with him, Franklin then solicited their services on the web.

The crimes occurred at various hotels throughout the metro area.

The defense requested a minimum sentence of 96 years, while the victims and prosecution pressed for more — and that’s what Franklin was given.

“He deserves every single minute in those walls,” Leary said.

Authorities believe more women were victimized.

Franklin was found guilty of:

Violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act
Human trafficking of a minor
Pimping a child
Patronizing a prostituted child
Soliciting for child prostitution
Inducement of child prostitution
Pandering of a child
Procurement of a child
Sexual exploitation of a child — producing a performance
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
Human trafficking of a minor
Second-degree kidnapping
Pimping a child
Patronizing a prostituted child
Soliciting for child prostitution
Inducement of child prostitution
Pandering of a child
Procurement of a child
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor — prostitution
Contributing to the delinquency of a minor — unlawful use of controlled substance
Distribution of a Schedule 1 or 2 controlled substance to a minor
Soliciting for child prostitution
Human trafficking of an adult
Five counts of pimping
Sexual assault
Attempt to commit pimping

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