Executive Summary
- Jamal Howard, 59, sentenced to 50 years for sex trafficking and fentanyl distribution.
- Co-defendant Renaldo Rojas, 27, received a 30-year sentence.
- The victim was a missing 15-year-old child recovered by the North Texas Trafficking Task Force.
- Investigation involved HSI Dallas and the Arlington Police Department.
A federal judge in the Northern District of Texas has sentenced a 59-year-old Arlington man to 50 years in prison for sex trafficking a minor and distributing narcotics, following a comprehensive investigation by the North Texas Trafficking Task Force. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a case involving the exploitation of a missing 15-year-old child and the distribution of deadly opioids.
Authorities identified the defendant as Jamal Howard, who was taken into custody in August 2024. According to court documents filed by the Department of Justice, agents determined that Howard had trafficked the teenager after coordinating with a co-defendant. The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas, working in conjunction with the Arlington Police Department.
Prosecutors established that Howard’s co-defendant, 27-year-old Renaldo Rojas, initially distributed fentanyl to the victim and sent photographs of the child to Howard in exchange for additional drugs. Court filings state that Howard subsequently collected the child, posted commercial sex advertisements, and utilized force, fraud, and coercion to traffic the victim while continuing to distribute fentanyl. Law enforcement recovered the child from an Arlington apartment on August 1, 2024.
Both defendants were indicted on June 11, 2025, and subsequently entered guilty pleas. Rojas was sentenced earlier this year, receiving a 30-year prison term on January 15, 2026, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distributing fentanyl to a person under 21.
HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard emphasized the severity of the outcome in an agency statement. "This intensely gratifying 50-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Howard’s crimes and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect our children and our communities," Pickard said. "Those who traffic minors and distribute deadly narcotics will be brought to justice and face the full consequences of their actions."
While the defendants in this specific case have pleaded guilty, it is important to note that under the U.S. justice system, all individuals formally accused of crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Judicial Impact and Enforcement Strategy
The imposition of a half-century sentence for Jamal Howard underscores the federal judiciary’s rigid stance against the convergence of narcotics distribution and human trafficking. By prosecuting these dual-threat offenses under the Homeland Security Task Force, authorities are effectively utilizing the severe statutory penalties associated with fentanyl to secure extended incarceration for traffickers. This case highlights the strategic efficacy of multi-agency cooperation in dismantling criminal networks that exploit vulnerable minors within domestic borders.
