Philadelphia man sentenced to 23 years for sex trafficking

A Philadelphia man was sentenced today for sex trafficking multiple victims, including a minor.

Kevin L. Smith, 29, was sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release. On Dec. 2, 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of sex trafficking by force, threats of force and coercion.

The charges stemmed from Smith’s operation of a sex trafficking ring in Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs, including Bucks and Delaware counties. In September 2019, Smith knowingly harbored, maintained, and advertised a minor, knowing the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.

During a period of two years from July 2015 to July 2017, the defendant also used physical threats to force two young women to have sex for money.

“Smith’s sexual exploitation of his victims was horrific,” said United States Attorney Jacqueline Romero in a release. “May those victims take some comfort, and find some measure of justice, in the lengthy prison sentence he’ll now be serving. Our office, alongside the FBI and our other partners, is working every day to put away these predatory sex traffickers who for some reason feel entitled to treat vulnerable young people as their personal property.”

“Sex trafficking, especially when it involves a minor, is one of the most heinous crimes we investigate,” added Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The sentencing of Kevin Smith is not just a testament to the diligent investigative work conducted by the FBI and our law enforcement partners, but reaffirms our mission of protecting innocent victims from exploitation.”