Patricia Hart, Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, Louisiana 2024

Wicked Scheme Unfolds in Bayou State

A Texas woman has been brought to justice for her role in a heinous sex trafficking conspiracy that left two adult victims in her wake. Patricia Hart, 25, was sentenced to nine years in prison for her crimes, which were committed in 2021 and 2022.

According to court documents, Hart and her boyfriend and co-defendant, Gregory Massey, 30, forced two adult victims to engage in commercial sex. The duo advertised the victims for commercial sex on websites, kept the money the victims made from commercial sex transactions, required the victims to meet a minimum dollar threshold from commercial sex every day, and restricted the victims’ access to food.

Massey also tracked the geolocation data on the victims’ phones so that they could not leave his control and used violence to accomplish the scheme. After Massey was arrested in state court, Hart continued the conspiracy by carrying out Massey’s demands via jail calls. Specifically, Massey told Hart to fire off a few rounds of a firearm to scare a victim into compliance.

The investigation into Hart and Massey’s crimes was a multi-agency effort involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Louisiana State Police. Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

Hart’s sentencing marks a significant victory in the fight against human trafficking. She was ordered to pay $21,600 in restitution and must also participate in the sex offender registration and notification program as part of her sentence. Judge Wendy Vitter handed down the sentence in federal court on June 25, 2024.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement. As the people of Louisiana demand justice, it is clear that the perpetrators of such heinous crimes will be held accountable.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Sex Crimes

Ruben Oswaldo Yeverino Rosales, Child Pornography and Cyberstalking, Arizona 2022

Jul 29, 2022

Sex Crimes

Seth Elred Perricone, Distribution of Child Pornography, Texas 2018

Jul 13, 2022

Sex Crimes

Atif Ullah, Distributing Child Pornography, New York 2019

May 23, 2019

Sex Crimes

TRAVIS WAYNE DARKES, Failure to Register as Sex Offender, Oklahoma 2013

Mar 12, 2015