SC man guilty of forcing women into sex trafficking will spend next 30 years in prison

A Greenville man who pleaded guilty to charges that he forced women into a sex trafficking operation in South Carolina faces a 30-year prison sentence.

Aaron T. Simmons was sentenced Tuesday in federal court following his guilty plea last November.

Simmons, 26, used physical beatings, threats, intimidation and psychological manipulation to coerce three people into “engaging in repeated commercial sex acts” for a year starting in August 2019, according to a statement American press published this week. Department of Justice.

The offenses occurred in the Greenville area. In addition to sex trafficking involving an adult, Simmons supplied a 17-year-old “for commercial sex acts” from August 2019 to November 2019, the Justice Department said.

““This significant prison sentence reflects the severity of the defendant's brutal conduct inflicted on victims, including a minor, over many months,” according to a statement from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who works in the Criminal Division. Civil Rights Department of Justice. “Sexually exploiting victims in this way deprives them of their freedom, dignity and sense of security, and risks scarring them for life. Such venal and rapacious conduct is unacceptable in our society.

Clark and Adair Boroughs, the U.S. attorney for South Carolina, said they are committed to stopping sex trafficking.

“Our office will continue to bring every resource we have to help end human trafficking in South Carolina,” Boroughs said in the press release.

An attorney for Simmons could not be reached Wednesday.