Samuel ‘Promise’ Pratt Convicted in Child Sex Trafficking Ring

Samuel Pratt, a/k/a “Promise,” age 34, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was found guilty on eight federal counts including sex trafficking of minors, production of child pornography, and firearms violations following a four-day trial in Columbia, South Carolina. The verdict marks the first jury conviction for human trafficking in the state’s history, exposing a brutal network that spanned South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York.

Acting United States Attorney Beth Drake announced the conviction today, detailing how Pratt ran a sprawling prostitution enterprise that exploited both adults and children. Trial evidence revealed he recruited two victims at ages 14 and 17, manipulating and abusing them as part of a calculated operation designed to profit from their suffering. Testimony from survivors peeled back the curtain on the psychological coercion and physical violence used to maintain control.

U.S. District Judge Terry L. Wooten presided over the trial and will sentence Pratt after reviewing a presentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Five of the counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, underscoring the severity of the crimes. Pratt now faces a lifetime behind bars for turning vulnerable youth into commodities.

The investigation, led by the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, dismantled a trafficking ring that operated under the radar for years. Prosecutors Jim May and Will Lewis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia built the case on witness testimony, digital evidence, and financial records that traced the flow of illicit proceeds from Pratt’s criminal enterprise.

Notably, Pratt’s mother, Daphne Pratt, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic children in connection with the same operation, signaling intergenerational complicity in the abuse. Her cooperation may factor into her sentencing, but it adds a chilling layer to the case — family ties weaponized to exploit minors.

“Sex traffickers prey on those in our society who are most vulnerable,” said Ms. Drake. “This case is a great example of how law enforcement at the state and federal level, working together, can bring these predators to justice.” The verdict sends a hard message: even the most hidden networks will be hunted down and exposed in court.