Musician Charged with Sex Trafficking Denies Charges

DUNDALK- The lawyer for an up-and-coming Baltimore musician charged with sex trafficking told a judge Tuesday that the allegations against his client are fabricated and may stem from his growing fame and a recent association with international star Bad Bunny.

Ricardo Darion Sawyer, also known as “Bmore Rico,” appeared in Baltimore County Circuit Court by video from jail Tuesday for a bail review hearing.

He is charged with 45 offenses, including sex trafficking, rape, prostitution and indecent exposure. The offense dates span from August 2021 to October 2025.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Baltimore County Crimes Against Children Unit, conducted in conjunction with the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

“These are manufactured allegations that were brought because he is a rising celebrity,” defense attorney Alex Leikus said. He told Judge Jan Alexander that Sawyer denies all the “horrible, horrible” allegations, is presumed innocent, and should have the opportunity to post bail. He asked the judge to approve home detention for Sawyer.

Sawyer, 38, has more than 800,000 Instagram followers and recently released a remix of his song “Vete” featuring international superstar Bad Bunny. The post announcing it received more than 50,000 likes. It is unclear if the remix was an official collaboration.

That song raised Sawyer’s profile, his attorney said.

“When that came out in late fall, he became even more popular,” Leikus said.

Online, Sawyer describes his music as a blend of electronic, hip hop and house genres. Online sites say he has collaborated with artists including Lil Baby, Future, Young Thug and Cardi B.

Assistant State’s Attorney Zarena Sita told the judge investigators uncovered significant evidence against Sawyer.

“It’s interesting that he brings up Instagram,” she said, “because all throughout his social media he is advertising girls. It’s him trying to exploit people. There are links with his information on different escort websites, including BackPage, where he is advertising people for prostitution purposes.”

The investigation began in July when an adult woman told police Sawyer had paid her for sex over several years, starting when she was a young teen. Sawyer also introduced her to other men and encouraged her to engage in sexual behavior with them, promising to pay her, according to charging documents. She was paid in money, gifts, food, alcohol and drugs, the documents state.

“For these exchanges, [she] was directed to leave her home to meet Sawyer at locations nearby where she would enter the rear of his vehicle and they would engage in illicit sexual activity,” police wrote.

She went to police after she began to suspect Sawyer was taking an interest in her younger sister after reading messages on her sister’s phone. On a hunch, she went to a location where Sawyer had previously taken her in Dundalk, Sita said.

There, she found Sawyer’s car. The woman told investigators he was in the back seat with her sister. She snapped a photo and sent it to an investigator. Sawyer saw her take the photo and quickly left, Sita said.

Sita said investigators have identified dozens more victims, not all minors.

“It is entirely likely that there will be more charges forthcoming and it is entirely likely that the feds are going to be taking this case,” she said.

Sita told the judge Sawyer is an extreme flight risk and poses a threat to public safety. She said when police arrested Sawyer in October, he was armed with a gun and had an Uzi-style firearm in his car. He uses aliases and has provided fake addresses, she said.

Sawyer’s attorney said Sawyer lives on St. Paul Street in Baltimore City, is married, and is “a product of Maryland.” He said Sawyer does not pose a flight risk and should be presumed innocent.

Judge Alexander denied Sawyer’s request for pretrial release. Sawyer remains held at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

His trial is tentatively set for April 26, 2026.