Federal Judge Sentences Sheboygan Sex and Heroin Trafficker to 25 Years Imprisonment

United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced today that United States District Court Judge Rudolph T. Randa sentenced Milwaukee native and former Sheboygan resident Jason Guidry (age: 33) to 25 years imprisonment following Guidry’s conviction on three sex-trafficking counts and one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin. The sex-trafficking counts involved three separate females.

Evidence introduced at Guidry’s sentencing showed that he controlled his group of victimized females by addicting them to heroin and then further induced their prostitution by manipulating and threatening to manipulate his supply of heroin to them.  As part of its presentation to Judge Randa, the United States presented expert testimony from Dr. Selahattin Kurter, who is one of a few number of Wisconsin medical doctors board certified in Addiction Medicine.  Dr. Kurter testified about the addictive properties of heroin, its long-term effects on the brain, the onset of heroin withdrawal, and the coercive power of the drug on those addicted to it.  In his sentencing comments, Judge Randa expressly recited Dr. Kurter’s statement that “heroin is the scourge of our nation.”

In making the public announcement of the criminal judgment imposed on Guidry, United States Attorney Santelle stated: “The sentence imposed on this defendant by Judge Randa is not only appropriate under all the facts and circumstances of this case but also sends yet another message to our community that human trafficking—and the terrible victimization that is at its core—will be answered decisively and significantly by our system of criminal justice. Mr. Guidry’s conduct was especially pernicious in that he used a highly addictive and often deadly drug to manipulate these victims into selling their bodies in the horrific sex trade business.”  Santelle noted that this was the first federal conviction of a defendant in Wisconsin who used an addictive drug to control the trafficking activities of his victims.

Santelle stated further: “The investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases in Eastern Wisconsin is among the highest priorities of my office, and, along with our equally committed federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue the perpetrators of this heinous conduct with all of the resources available to us.”  He commended specifically the detectives of the Sheboygan Police Department who were principally responsible for the investigative work upon which this prosecution, expertly handled by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph R. Wall, was premised.

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