Adrian Smith, 21, Charged in Minor Sex Trafficking Attempt

Adrian Smith, a 21-year-old man from New York, was charged today in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with the attempted sex trafficking of three female minors. The case, brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, marks a chilling escalation in the federal crackdown on child exploitation.

According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Smith was staying in northeastern Pennsylvania at the time of his arrest and allegedly orchestrated the attempted trafficking during August 2016. The criminal information alleges he used coercion and manipulation in a calculated effort to exploit vulnerable children for commercial sex acts.

The investigation was led by special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with critical assistance from the Scranton Police Department. The probe uncovered digital evidence, witness statements, and transactional data pointing to Smith’s involvement in the planned trafficking scheme.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a potential maximum sentence of life. The charges fall under federal statutes designed to combat the sexual exploitation of minors.

This case was pursued as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006. The program unites federal, state, and local agencies to identify, rescue, and protect children from sexual abuse and trafficking. More information is available at www.usdoj.gov/psc.

It is important to note that criminal informations are allegations only. Adrian Smith is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sentencing, if a conviction occurs, will be determined by the presiding judge, factoring in federal guidelines, the severity of the offense, and the defendant’s background.