BALTIMORE – On February 26, 2025, Kenika Danielle Leach, 33, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her involvement in a multi-agency investigation into sex trafficking, drug distribution, and exploitation. The sentencing follows a two-year investigation led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, with significant contributions from local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Leach, who pleaded guilty on November 18, 2024, to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, distribution of cocaine, and receiving the earnings of a prostitute, exploited vulnerable women by providing them with drugs and coercing them into commercial sex acts to repay their debts. She trafficked the women from Hagerstown to the Baltimore area, where they were forced into prostitution under the threat of physical violence and intimidation.
The investigation began in December 2021 when hospital personnel notified the Baltimore Police Department of a patient who reported being trafficked by Leach. Through collaboration with partner agencies like Homeland Security Investigations and the Maryland State Police, the investigation identified 10 additional women who had been similarly exploited by Leach.
In a statement following the sentencing, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown expressed his hope that the outcome would help bring closure and healing to the victims involved. “This sentencing is a critical step toward justice, but the trauma these victims experienced will last a lifetime,” said Brown.
Leach was sentenced by Judge Brett R. Wilson of the Circuit Court for Washington County, who handed down a 40-year sentence, suspending all but 15 years to be followed by five years of supervised probation. Leach is also prohibited from having any contact with her victims as part of her sentence.
The case is a significant example of the collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to dismantle human trafficking operations. “This investigation represents the dedication and relentless efforts of our officers in dismantling this human trafficking ring and bringing justice to the victims,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.
Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the sentence in holding traffickers accountable for their crimes. “Kenika Danielle Leach has more than earned every single day of her prison sentence,” McCarthy said.
The successful prosecution was made possible through the partnership of various law enforcement agencies, including the Baltimore Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and Maryland State Police, and through vital community programs like the Blue Dot program, which trains first responders to identify signs of human trafficking.
The investigation and prosecution of Leach’s case serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation in addressing the ongoing issue of human trafficking in Maryland and beyond.
