Jackson man sentenced in human trafficking case

A Jackson man will serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a human trafficking operation in Pearl.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the sentencing of 42-year-old James West, Jr., who was arrested in November 2021 as part of a 10-day blitz of human trafficking operations across the state, which resulted in 13 arrests and the recovery of 49 victims.

West pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a stolen firearm. West was previously convicted of motor vehicle theft, burglary of a dwelling, felony child endangerment and other felony charges. In addition to the 10 years to serve, West will also have two years of post-release supervision.

“I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors of our Special Victims Unit (SVU) for the hard work that helped put this felon behind bars,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Their diligence is vital to ensuring that criminals are brought to justice and victims are set on the road to recovery. My office will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities from criminals who seek to exploit others.”