James Anthony Stinson, 55, of Spokane, Washington, was convicted on 11 felony counts related to sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of firearms after a three-day jury trial. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Pete Serrano.
The investigation into Stinson began in 2021 following several controlled purchases of crack cocaine. Some transactions took place in his hotel room in Spokane Valley. Authorities from the FBI, Spokane Police Department, and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at his hotel rooms and found methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl pills intended for distribution, multiple illegally possessed firearms, and evidence pointing to sex trafficking.
Further review of Stinson’s phones and digital devices uncovered videos showing him threatening and violently assaulting a commercial sex worker. Messages revealed he used force, fraud, and coercion to create an atmosphere of fear among victims forced into sex work. Investigators determined that he profited significantly from both human trafficking and drug sales.
Stinson had previous convictions in Washington State Superior Court for Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine), serving over ten years before being released in 2011. In 2012 he was convicted federally for being an addict or unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and ammunition; he served another ten years before his release. At the time of his arrest in 2021, Stinson was under federal supervised release.
United States Attorney Pete Serrano stated: “The United States takes very seriously the safety of our neighborhoods. Crimes involving drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession are devastating to our communities. Mr. Stinson not only engaged in the distribution of controlled substances, but he also exploited multiple vulnerable women to engage in sex work.
He took advantage of their addiction and other vulnerabilities for his own benefit. Mr. Stinson is a violent predator with a lengthy criminal history, and I am grateful for the work of many law enforcement partners whose efforts led to Mr. Stinson being taken off the streets.”
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office said: “As this investigation into Mr. Stinson progressed, it revealed even more crimes, all of them harmful to the public. Unfortunately, he did not seem to learn his lesson from prior convictions and returned to criminal activity, including distribution of dangerous drugs, illegal possession of firearms, and even sex trafficking through force and coercion. This case highlights the importance of the FBI’s Spokane Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force, which was instrumental in bringing Mr. Stinson to justice and is an effective asset in keeping our Eastern Washington communities safe.”
The case involved cooperation between multiple agencies as part of the FBI Spokane Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force—a partnership among federal agents as well as local law enforcement from Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Police Department—and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca R. Perez and Lisa Cartier-Giroux.
