Terrance Tyrell Edwards, Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coerci…

Missoula, Montana — A federal jury delivered a damning verdict today against Terrance Tyrell Edwards, convicting the 38-year-old of running a brutal sex trafficking ring that preyed on vulnerable women and minors across Montana and Utah. Edwards was found guilty on all counts, including three counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion; three counts of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Prostitution; Obstruction of a Sex Trafficking Investigation; Transportation of a Person with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity; Distribution of Marijuana to Person under 21 Years of Age; and Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant. Francine Joann Granados, 34, was also found guilty of Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant.

The crimes began in March 2016, just weeks after Edwards was released from prison on prior prostitution charges. He immediately began forcing his first victim into commercial sex acts in Missoula, using physical violence, emotional torture, and threats against her life and her family. He confiscated every dollar she earned. As his operation expanded, Edwards brought in as many as five women, applying the same pattern of psychological grooming and savage control. Evidence presented at trial included photographs of blood spatter from one victim who was beaten so hard in Edwards’ car that her blood coated the seat belt — later confirmed by DNA to be hers.

Edwards ran his operation like a criminal enterprise, advertising his victims on Backpage.com and moving them between cities in Montana and Utah to conduct commercial sex acts. The money flowed to him, while the women lived in fear. In September 2016, Edwards escalated his crimes by recruiting three minor girls from Fargo, North Dakota — ages 15, 16, and 17. He drove them to Billings, supplying them with marijuana en route, violating federal law. His arrest came swiftly upon arrival in Billings, but the criminal conduct didn’t end behind bars.

While jailed, Edwards began orchestrating a campaign to silence his victims. In recorded phone calls played for the jury, Edwards and Granados plotted to influence witness testimony. Despite explicit warnings from the FBI that contact with victims was illegal, Granados reached out repeatedly, attempting to sway their statements. Other calls revealed Edwards himself pressuring victims directly, begging them to recant or downplay the abuse. These recordings became pivotal evidence in securing the tampering convictions.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme hailed the verdict as a critical blow against human trafficking in the region. ‘We are committed to bringing human traffickers like Edwards to justice,’ Alme said, citing last week’s Justice Department directive that prioritizes trafficking prosecutions. ‘We investigate vigorously, prosecute without mercy, and support victims with resources and care.’ He praised prosecutors Cyndee Peterson and Zeno Baucus, FBI agents, and victim-witness specialists for their relentless work in building the case.

Edwards now faces decades in federal prison at sentencing, while Granados awaits her day in court. The case underscores the insidious reach of sex trafficking networks, even in rural states like Montana. Alme urged the public to remain vigilant: ‘These crimes are happening in our towns, on our streets. I ask people across Montana to open their eyes, trust their instincts, and report anything suspicious to law enforcement. Victims are counting on us.’