ATLANTA – Kenndric Roberts, who is facing more than 600 years in prison if he's convicted on more than 50 human trafficking and false imprisonment charges, spoke with 11Alive from behind bars.
The case started when one of Roberts’ Diamond Kitties, a 20-year-old mother who feared for her life, called 911 in March of 2017 alleging that the then-33-year-old was holding her and seven other women captive inside a lavish, sprawling Sandy Springs mansion.
PHOTOS | 'Diamond Kitties' human trafficking suspect speaks from jail
11Alive Investigator Faith Abubey spoke with Roberts in prison at the Fulton County jail this week. 11Alive News has spoken with several women who lived in the home with Roberts and told the same story of threats, intimidation, and forced labor.
►WATCH THIS: Sisters of Struggle: Being a Diamond Kitty
We took video of their interviews to the jail to get Roberts' reaction to their claims.
"One thing I want you to get before I go any farther is, this is what you agreed to," Roberts told 11Alive. "This is the contract situation you (the women) signed up for."
Roberts said when he met the women he called Diamond Kitties, many were strippers living in poverty and he decided he'd help them by giving them a lavish lifestyle inside his rental mansion. He said his goal was to teach them how to better manage themselves as business women.
"Human trafficking is where people being locked in closets, they're being handcuffed, they're being told they can't go places," Roberts said. "They're being controlled. They're being managed in every shape, form or fashion. What about my situation says that. Nothing."
Roberts said the women helped craft the contracts that managed everything from the food they ate to the money they made stripping. He said none of them ever complained until the 911 call that unraveled everything.
"Anybody can accuse you of anything," Roberts said.
11Alive played an interview with one of the women who said Roberts would force her to have sex with him.
"I don't have to force anyone to have sex," responded Roberts.
PHOTOS: Human trafficking suspect arrested for holding women hostage
When Abubey asked if he was sorry for any of the things the girls are accusing him of, Roberts said he has nothing to be sorry for.
In March of 2017, based on probable cause Judge Jaslovelin 'Jessy' Lall dismissed four of the six counts of false imprisonment and all human trafficking charges against the 33-year-old defendant during his arraignment and preliminary hearing. A grand jury, however, decided the following day, to indict him on those charges, as well as a criminal street activity charge.
Additional charges were added earlier this year.
On June 28, 2018, Roberts made a court appearance without an attorney. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Todd Markle told Roberts if he didn’t have a lawyer at his next appearance, he would have to represent himself.
'SISTERS OF STRUGGLE' | FULL COVERAGE OF THE DIAMOND KITTIES CASE
- 'Diamond Kitties' human trafficking suspect may represent himself
- Sisters of Struggle: Being a Diamond Kitty
- Grand jury indicts human trafficking suspect on all charges judge dismissed
- AUDIO | Terrified 20-year-old makes desperate call from million-dollar home
- EXCLUSIVE | Alleged human trafficking victim: ‘I was just a little puppet'
- EXCLUSIVE | Miami woman says human trafficking suspect tried luring her
- Inside the alleged human trafficking Sandy Springs mansion
- Alleged victim's mother: He said, ‘I will find you and kill you' like you
- BEHIND BARS | Alleged Diamond Kitties' human trafficker pens letter to judge
