A 16-year-old girl’s escape from captivity led to the dismantling of a Houston sex trafficking ring. After being lured and exploited by gang member Andres Portillo and five other men, the teen’s secret call for help exposed a network of abuse.

Brandon Deshun Hawkins, 36, pleaded guilty on Sep. 29, 2021, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. For that offense, he was sentenced Wednesday to serve to 37 months in federal prison.