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Billings man charged with sex and drug trafficking crimes

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A Billings man accused of sex trafficking and drug distribution crimes was brought to court to answer questions on his charge on Thursday.

Mario Juan Drake, 31, pleaded not guilty to six counts of the 25 indictment he is being charged for.

Alongside Drake, four co-defendants have been charged. William Maurice Newkirk, Djavon Lamont King and Dejon Anthony Duncan have also pleaded not guilty.

The charging documents are currently accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Drake pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

If convicted of the most serious crime, Drake faces a minimum mandatory 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.