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A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for sex trafficking and firearms offenses, acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced Monday. Winston Cornell Burt of Hemet, California, was arrested on November 6, 2022, after brutally beating a 20-year-old woman and engaging in a gun battle on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle.

U.S. District Judge John Chun described Burt’s actions as “horrific criminal conduct” and ordered 15 years of supervised release when he gets out of prison. Burt’s sentence will run concurrently with a 176-month sentence from King County Superior Court.

According to court records, Burt identified himself as a pimp and operated a sex trafficking ring across Washington, California, and Arizona. His victims were forced to hand over all their earnings, and some had his name tattooed on their faces as a mark of “ownership.”

The case details reveal that on November 2, 2022, Burt assaulted the 20-year-old victim by kicking, punching, and pistol-whipping her after she expressed a desire to stop working for him. The assault took place at an Airbnb in south Seattle, according to court documents. Three days later, Burt assaulted the victim again, forcing her to strip to her underwear. The victim attempted to escape by jumping out of a third-story window but was recaptured by Burt and his associates.

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Victim: ‘I was one of the lucky ones who got away’

As the victim fled in a van driven by a passerby, Burt engaged in a rolling gun battle on Aurora Avenue North, firing shots at the van, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The driver managed to evade Burt and contacted the Washington State Patrol for assistance. Law enforcement responded and transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.

The victim, speaking to the court by phone, said Burt “gets a thrill from violence and hurting people. I was one of the lucky ones who got away.”

Burt pleaded guilty in October 2024 to federal charges of sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion and unlawful possession of firearms. He also pleaded guilty to multiple charges in King County, including assault and drive-by shooting.

Manipulative and predatory behavior

Burt was arrested while attempting to leave the Airbnb in south Seattle.

Police recovered over $41,000 in cash and a firearm from his vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Burt was wearing a $29,000 diamond necklace and an $85,000 watch. Law enforcement also discovered that Burt had used his illegal income to purchase a home in Arizona, where they recovered another firearm, methamphetamine, and nearly $25,000 in cash.

Burt will forfeit both firearms and more than $72,000 in cash. Prosecutors highlighted Burt’s manipulative and predatory behavior, noting that he used physical, mental, and emotional coercion to control his victims for financial gain.

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