Harold Davis Sentenced to 151 Months for Sex Trafficking Minor

Harold Davis, 28, of Memphis, Tennessee, is headed to federal prison for more than 12 years after being convicted of sex trafficking a minor and using the internet to facilitate the crime. On Thursday, December 29, 2016, U.S. District Judge Samuel H. Mays Jr. handed down a 151-month sentence, slamming the defendant for preying on a vulnerable runaway teen.

According to court records, Davis targeted the minor in May 2014 after meeting her on the streets of Memphis. He took her to his home, bought her a cellphone and a wig, then began pimping her out through explicit ads on Backpage.com. The posts featured her image and were tied directly to Davis via his phone number and email accounts, evidence later uncovered by the FBI’s Human Trafficking Task Force.

The operation unraveled when a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over Davis’ vehicle for a routine traffic stop. Inside, the deputy found the underage girl in the backseat, along with a suspicious surplus of condoms and female hygiene products. The minor was quickly identified, removed from the car, and placed in foster care—only to vanish days later.

Investigators discovered Davis had reached out to the girl through Facebook, supplied her with his contact information, and orchestrated her escape from the foster home. That brazen act deepened the severity of his crimes, showing a relentless pursuit of control and exploitation.

In April 2016, a federal jury in the Western District of Tennessee convicted Davis on one count of sex trafficking a minor and one count of using the internet to promote unlawful activity. The verdict followed a thorough probe by the FBI and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, both of which built a damning digital and testimonial case.

Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing outcome. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Debra Ireland and Kasey Weiland led the prosecution, ensuring Davis faced the full weight of federal law for his predatory actions.

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