DENVER – Terrell Layne Smith, aka “Swiss”, age 35 of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello to serve 151 months (over 12 years) in federal prison for Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.
According to court documents, including the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, two minor girls, Minor #1 and Minor #2 met through high school. In early August 2012, Defendant Smith became acquainted with the mother of Minor #2. The defendant began to live at the home of the mother of Minor #2, along with Minor #2 and her four siblings. Minor #1 also came to live at the home of Minor #2 sometime during the late summer of 2012. The defendant knew that Minor #1 was 16 or 17 years of age and knew that Minor #2 was 17 years of age. While the defendant was living with Minor #1 and Minor #2, he told them they could earn money by going out on “dates,” referring to prostitution or commercial sex acts.
The defendant used his cell phone to take pictures of Minor #1 in Colorado and in Arizona. In the pictures, Minor #1 was posed in sexual poses in various sorts of attire, including lingerie. Minor #1 took pictures of Minor #2 posed in sexual poses while partially nude. The photographs were used to advertise the availability of Minor #1 and Minor #2 for prostitution on a website named “Backpage.com.” The defendant used his cell phone to access the Internet and post the images on “Backpage.com,” advertising the availability of the minors in the ad. In many of the “Backpage.com” postings, the number for the defendant’s cell phone was listed as the contact number for individuals who wanted to respond to the ads. The ads implied that the images of Minor #1 and Minor #2 posted in conjunction with the advertisements were 20 or 21 years of age. Minor #1 also started posting her own ads on “Backpage.com” using the defendant’s phone, although she did not have a “Backpage.com” account. On those occasions, Minor #1 was given a pre-paid credit card either by the defendant or by an adult prostitute associated with the defendant to post the ads.
From September 19, 2012, to approximately October 4, 2012, the defendant transported the minors to various locations in Colorado, including private homes and hotels, so that one or both minors could participate in prostitution. Beginning on October 4, 2012, the defendant, Minor #1, and Minor #2 embarked upon a trip to the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, in a vehicle rented by the mother of Minor #2. Prior to the trip from Colorado to Arizona, both minors understood that they would be engaging in prostitution in Arizona based on communications with the defendant. Advertisements were posted on “Backpage.com” in the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area advertising that the Minors were available for prostitution during the time period they were in Arizona. Minor #1 engaged in prostitution in Arizona during this time period. The defendant, and the two minors then returned to Colorado on approximately October 10, 2012.
The defendant transported Minor #1 to Arizona again on approximately October 11, 2012 so that she could participate in prostitution. Minor #1 engaged in at least one act of prostitution on the trip. On October 14, 2012, Minor #1 was arrested on a runaway warrant in Phoenix, Arizona. The investigation revealed that the defendant prostituted the minors, receiving a percentage of the money paid to the minors by the prostitution customers for commercial sex acts. The defendant also bought the minors clothing, food, and provided them with marijuana during the above-described time period.
(File Photo: CNN)
