By james art Durham Police are asking the public for help in a human trafficking case.
Officers arrested Jerry Demario Gess, 39, of Falls City, Neb., on Oct. 18, charging him with trafficking an adult in three separate incidents.
According to Guess’ arrest warrant, Guess attempted to hold a woman identified as “AMA” against her will for sexual slavery on February 7.
Authorities are holding Guess in the Durham County Jail on $6 million bail.
Police want to speak to anyone who worked for Guess or anyone who may have information about his activities in Durham.
Guess was investigated by federal authorities
According to a complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Guess was charged earlier in 2024. on charges that he made misleading statements to investors in the United States.
The complaint alleges that Guess made numerous false and misleading statements to at least 57 potential investors in at least 12 states and one foreign country to entice them to invest in his North Carolina-based company, Guess & Co.
In the complaint, the SEC alleged that Guess was the only person who could fire, hire and promote employees and direct their day-to-day activities. The complaint said the business had between five and 20 employees at one time, a board of directors between seven and eight members.
The SEC said Guess sent emails to at least 25 potential investors containing false or misleading statements about its business plans.
The SEC’s complaint states that Guess & Co. has multiple operational centers, including in Missouri, Kansas and Raleigh, North Carolina. The complaint says the business has moved several times since it was founded in 2015, often “under threat of eviction for nonpayment of rent.”
WRAL News reached out to the company’s senior vice president, James Jackson, who defended Guess and said Guess is “trying to make things right.”
“I don’t agree with all of these allegations,” Jackson said. “I know he has emails and is up to date with all his emails, [and] that he will prove all these things false.”
According to Guess & Co.’s website, the company serves clients and customers in “technology, real estate, energy, healthcare and diverse solutions.”
The SEC said that Guess & Co. falsely told investors that the company earned millions of dollars from its business operations between 2019 and 2021 The agency said the company projected it would earn billions in revenue in 2021. and 2022, but has “no operations, customers, or business income other than sales of 19 computers to electronics resale stores for $14,654.”
When asked what Guess’ company actually does, Jackson said the company has helped “mom-and-pop” stores “refinance their businesses to keep them going” so they don’t close.
Guess had prior convictions in North Carolina
The SEC said Guess has a history of criminal fraud offenses dating back to 2006, including in North Carolina.
In 2008 The SEC said Guess tried to defraud a real estate developer out of $375,000 in connection with an advanced fee loan scheme that Guess operated. After failing to appear at a contempt hearing, the court issued an arrest warrant and Gess fled to Canada.
Guess remained in Canada until 2011, when he was deported to the United States. He later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing false tax returns. Guess served 4 years and 3 months in prison and was ordered to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution.
The SEC said Guess’ supervised release in the case was terminated in 2015. and his sentence was extended by nine months for failing to comply with his release conditions once in 2015. and again in 2016. He was later released in 2017.
Durham police asked anyone with information about the Guess human trafficking case to call them at 919-560-4440 ext. 29325 or anonymously to CrimeStoppers at www.durhamcrimestoppers.org or 919-683-1200.