United States of America v. Travis Thomas

Rock Island, Illinois, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with ne count of sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a) and (b)(1); two counts of transporting a victim in interstate commerce with the intent that she engage in prostitution, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2421(a); and two counts of coercing or enticing a victim to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, in vi olation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(a).

The Fifth and Sixth Amendments guarantee an impartial jury to those standing trial for criminal charges. United States v. Hill, 153 F.4th 595, 598 (7th Cir. 2025). An impartial jury is one “that determines guilt on the basis of the judge’s instructions and the evidence introduced at trial, as distinct from preconceptions or other extraneous sources of decision.” Os wald v. Bertrand, 374 F.3d 475, 477 (7th Cir. 2004). District courts enjoy “discretion in deciding how to handle instances of potential juror bias.” United States v. Blitch, 622 F.3d 658, 667 (7th Cir. 2010). In exercising that discretion, courts must calibrate their response to the probability of bias, see Oswald, 374 F.3d at 480, but individual questioning is not always required, see Blitch, 622 F.3d at 665. Ultimately,
“‘whether to dismiss any or all jurors lies in the sound discretion of the trial judge,’ and we will only reverse that decision if ‘manifest injustice resulted from the judge’s refusal to dis
miss all of the jurors.’” Howard, 692 F.3d at 707–08 (quoting United States v. Lott, 442 F.3d 981, 984 (7th Cir. 2006)). There is manifest injustice when “improper comments … prevent other jurors from being fair and impartial.” Lott, 442 F.3d at
984 (cleaned up).

The defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a total term of 420 months as follows: 420 months as to Count 1; 120 months as to each of Counts 2 and 3; 240 months as to each of Counts 4 and 5; all counts to run concurrently. The defendant is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal. Upon release from imprisonment, you shall be on supervised release for a term of: five (5) years as to Count One; three (3) years as to Counts Two, Three, Four and Five, all counts to run concurrent. Mandatory conditions of supervised release. Discretionary conditions of supervised release. Special conditions of supervised release. The defendant shall make total restitution in the amount of $542,693.39. Schedule of payments.

Affirmed