Virginia gang leader who trafficked teenage girl planned up to 30 'dates' per night for girl

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Portsmouth leader of the Imperial Gangster Bloods gang has been convicted for his role in trafficking a 16-year-old for commercial purposes, according to the Justice Department.

Pierre De Romeo Smith, 40, of Portsmouth, will serve a 32-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, production of child pornography, possession with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the DOJ.

Court records and trial evidence proved that Smith met the 16-year-old, who remains unidentified, on April 30, 2022, according to attorneys. He took sexually explicit photos of her, including an image of her with a shotgun muzzle in her mouth.

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The DOJ claims Smith posted the victim's photos on a sex commerce website, advertising her for commercial sex.

Over the next three weeks, Smith said she was available for commercial sex and scheduled him on up to 30 “dates” per night around Hampton Roads, according to the DOJ. He gave the victim amphetamines to keep her awake and took all the money from the “dates”.

In May 2022, the Virginia Beach Police Department conducted an undercover commercial sex operation at a Virginia Beach hotel, according to attorneys. During his interview, Smith texted the victim that he was in the building and VBPD arrested him in the hotel parking lot.

Officers said there were fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, other controlled substances and a Glock handgun in Smith's car when he was arrested. The attorneys note that Smith was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

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The DOJ claims that after Smith's arrest, it “gave the green light” to the victim, meaning it approved his killing. The victim informed authorities of the order, and they claim to have verified that she had received the “green light” via two separate confidential sources.

Smith allegedly ordered the killing so that no one could testify against him at trial, according to the DOJ. He was convicted by a federal jury on April 6, 2023.