Smith-Byrd & Lewis Face Life for Trafficking Minors

HOUSTON, TX – The dark underbelly of Houston and South Texas continues to yield grim discoveries as federal prosecutors intensify their fight against human trafficking. The Southern District of Texas (SDTX) is aggressively pursuing cases, with several defendants now facing the possibility of life behind bars. As National Human Trafficking Awareness Month draws to a close, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani has made it clear: the SDTX will relentlessly pursue those who exploit the vulnerable.

“Human trafficking is especially heinous,” Hamdani stated bluntly. “Our office will continue to use every available resource to charge those who cause imaginable harm and exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society.” The SDTX has charged approximately a dozen cases in the past year as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA), with nearly 20 individuals currently pending trial. The scope of these crimes extends beyond local borders, with evidence indicating interstate trafficking operations.

Two particularly disturbing cases center on Jonathan Smith-Byrd and Larry Odell Lewis, both accused of using force, fraud, and coercion to compel multiple women into commercial sex. Indictments reveal that both men allegedly transported victims across state lines to facilitate their exploitation. Adding a particularly chilling detail, charges indicate that Smith-Byrd preyed upon two victims who were minors at the time of the alleged trafficking. Both men now face potential life sentences if convicted.

The fight isn’t limited to high-profile cases. Just yesterday, a woman admitted to trafficking other women from a cantina bathroom, and also to sex trafficking of a minor. The woman allegedly forced victims into commercial sex acts and stole their earnings, resorting to threats of violence against those who refused. Separately, Malcolm Lenard Thomas, a Houstonian, received a federal prison sentence exceeding 10 years after attempting to entice a South Texas minor into commercial sex. Thomas admitted to communicating with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl via Instagram, even purchasing a bus ticket for her travel to Houston, falsely claiming he would provide “protection.” This undercover operation highlighted law enforcement’s proactive approach to intercepting traffickers before they connect with potential victims.

U.S. Attorney Hamdani recently met with members of the HTRA, reaffirming his commitment to combating human trafficking within the SDTX and beyond. He praised the collaborative efforts of the HTRA, emphasizing the crucial role of non-governmental organizations providing vital victim services. “HTRA will continue to be the gold standard for human trafficking task forces,” Hamdani asserted. “The efforts of law enforcement as well as the non-governmental organizations and others who provide victim services are so greatly appreciated. It takes all of us working together towards the same goal that makes this task force what it is today. I am proud our office has been a part of it since its inception.”

The HTRA is a massive undertaking, comprised of the Houston Police Department, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, Department of State, Federal Air Marshals, and numerous state and local agencies, including constables’ offices and sheriff’s departments across multiple counties. They work alongside victim service providers like the YMCA, United Against Human Trafficking, and Texas Forensic Nurse Examiners. Established in 2004, the alliance aims to combine resources to target traffickers while providing necessary support to those rescued from exploitation. The message from the SDTX is clear: those who profit from human suffering will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.