Jacksonville Man Indicted for Alleged Multi-State Sex Trafficking

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Federal prosecutors have indicted 37-year-old Jacksonville resident Erwin Phillips Burley on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, enticement to engage in prostitution, and interstate transportation of a person with the intent to engage in prostitution. The indictment alleges a pattern of criminal behavior across multiple states between 2024 and 2025.

Why it matters

Sex trafficking is a serious crime that exploits vulnerable individuals and violates human rights. This case highlights the interstate nature of such criminal enterprises and the need for coordinated law enforcement efforts to combat this form of modern slavery.

The details

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Burley is accused of recruiting two victims to perform commercial sex acts and transporting one of them between Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. The indictment includes two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, two counts of enticement to engage in prostitution, and seven counts of interstate transportation for prostitution. If convicted, Burley faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison on the sex trafficking charges and up to 20 years on the enticement charges.

• The alleged criminal activity occurred between February 2024 and May 2025.
• Burley was previously sentenced to 96 months in prison in 2018 for a separate federal enticement to engage in prostitution conviction.

What’s next

Upcoming court filings will determine the next steps in the federal case as it moves through the system.