Durham Jury Finds Man Guilty of Attempted Human Trafficking of 16-Year-Old
NEWS RELEASE
November 22, 2019
For immediate release
Durham Jury Finds Man Guilty of Attempted Human Trafficking of 16-Year-Old
DURHAM, NC — A jury has convicted a man in Durham County Superior Court on charges of attempted human trafficking of a minor and first-degree kidnapping.
The conviction (18CRS052421; 18CRS001769) is the first in Durham County for a human trafficking charge since a 2011 plea.
“We know human trafficking is prevalent in our state, yet the charge is very difficult to prove in court because human trafficking is based on suppressing victims through manipulation and threats,” said District Attorney Satana Deberry. “This extremely rare verdict is a testament not only to the skill and dedication of our staff, but to what can be accomplished when the justice system believes victims and puts its resources toward holding accountable those who cause serious harm in our community.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kendra Montgomery-Blinn, the lead prosecutor over the Durham County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, which was created this year. The jury delivered its verdict Thursday following a week-long trial and sentencing took place on Friday.
The defendant, Corey Oliver Smith, was sentenced to a minimum of 127 months and a maximum of 213 months in prison, followed by a second term of a minimum of 89 months and a maximum of 167 months in prison.
“The message today is clear for survivors of human trafficking and perpetrators alike,” DA Deberry said. “The Durham County District Attorney’s Office will do everything in its power to bring these cases to court and bring those responsible for human trafficking to justice.”
ADA Montgomery-Blinn successfully argued in court that Smith had taken a 16-year-old girl from Charlotte to Greensboro and then to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport against her will in an attempt to send her out of state to work as a prostitute. Smith has been in custody at the Durham County Detention Center since April 9, 2018.
“We believe this person had a prior pattern of similar conduct in other states,” said ADA Montgomery-Blinn. “That pattern ends in Durham.”
According to the North Carolina Sentencing Commission, between 2013 and 2017, there were five convictions for human trafficking of a minor in North Carolina state courts.
Individuals who are the victims of human trafficking or believe they have information about human trafficking activity are encouraged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1–888–373–7888 or send a text message to BeFree (233733).
The Durham County District Attorney’s Office employs about 40 people, including prosecutors, administrators, victim service coordinators, legal assistants, and support staff. The Office is led by District Attorney Satana Deberry, who took office on January 1, 2019. The Office handles all criminal cases in Durham County.
