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Springfield Man Faces Up to 5 Years in Prison for Promoting Prostitution
A Springfield man has pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution offenses in federal court. Kevin Smoot, 59, was charged with one count of conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses and seven counts of use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses.
According to court records, Smoot conspired with others to promote commercial sex involving several women between February 2019 and June 2020. He was arrested on June 26, 2020, and indicted in July 2020.
Smoot’s guilty plea admits to promoting prostitution by transporting women to and from commercial sex appointments, recruiting and encouraging women to engage in commercial sex acts for money, and helping to procure illegal drugs for use by drug-addicted women engaged in commercial sex.
The charging statutes provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for August 19, 2021.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant is prosecuting the case. The case was announced by Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, and other law enforcement officials.
Smoot’s actions promoted prostitution by providing a residential location for commercial sex acts between female victims of sex trafficking and male customers, taking actions to collect money from male customers, and benefiting from the proceeds of commercial sex acts performed by female victims of sex trafficking.
Smoot’s case is a reminder of the harsh consequences of promoting prostitution and human trafficking. The federal government will continue to work to hold perpetrators of these crimes accountable and protect the victims.
Defendant: Kevin Smoot
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses, use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses
City and State: Springfield, Massachusetts
Arrest Date: June 26, 2020
Sentencing Date: August 19, 2021
Sentence: Up to 5 years in prison, fine of $250,000
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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