Brandon Sanders, once arrested in Great Falls for human trafficking, now faces federal indictments after grim findings in Chicago. The initial charges were dropped due to legal challenges, but recent events have brought new attention to the case.
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Brandon Cameron Sanders, previously arrested in Great Falls in 2019, is now facing federal indictments after a disturbing discovery in Chicago.
Sanders was initially arrested in August 2019 at a Motel 6 in Great Falls. He was charged with human trafficking and drug possession.Police alleged that Sanders trafficked a woman from Germany, coercing her into prostitution and controlling her money and documents. However, his case was dismissed when the victim couldn't testify in person due to COVID-19 restrictions and the court's denial of remote testimony.
Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki explained the challenges in prosecuting cases involving international victims, saying these types of cases are difficult to prosecute when the victims are from out of the country.
The court ruled that Sanders had the right to see his accuser in person. Despite the state's request for remote testimony, Judge John Kutzman denied the motion. Without the victim's testimony, the case against Sanders fell apart, and he was released.
Since then, Sanders' alleged criminal activities have escalated. In June 2023, he was accused of stabbing a man on a restaurant's rooftop in Chicago. During a search of his apartment, police discovered the body of a 18-year-old woman in his freezer.
Sanders is now federally indicted on three counts of human trafficking. According to a Chicago news station, he was scheduled to appear in court last month, but the results of that appearance have not been independently confirmed.
