A 26-year-old Vinton, Virginia resident, Terrell Banker, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for sex trafficking charges following a jury trial in October 2015.
Banker, 26, of Vinton, Va., was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiring to engage in the sex trafficking of a minor, one count of engaging in the sex trafficking of a minor and one count of persuading or enticing a minor to engage in prostitution.
The case involved the trafficking of a minor, a 17-year-old resident of Salem, Virginia, who was socializing with Laura Cook via the Internet in February 2015. Cook introduced the minor to Banker, who provided various illegal drugs to Cook and others, including marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
At some point in February 2015, Cook asked Banker to provide the minor with methamphetamine. On at least one occasion, Banker took payment for the drugs he provided in the form of sex with the minor.
In March 2015, the minor ran away from home and was harbored by Cook. After discussing the minor’s situation with Banker, Cook and Banker decided that the minor would be prostituted as a way to earn money. Near the end of March 2015, Banker arranged a prostitution encounter for the minor, transported her to take part in the commercial sex act, and took payment from the individual involved.
The investigation of the case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Roanoke City Police Department, and the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony P. Giorno and Laura D. Rottenborn prosecuted the case for the United States.
According to United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr., sex trafficking is an international crisis that not only impacts men and women overseas but is also rooted in cities and towns all across the country. This case was particularly tragic because it involved the trafficking of a minor, a girl of just 17 at the time of the incident.
Related Federal Cases
- Lacole Manley, Drug Trafficking, Virginia 2000 · North Carolina
- Derrick Patrick Bernard, Jr., Drug Trafficking, Conspiracy, Possession of Firearms, Virginia 2023 · Virginia
- Shawn Lemont McClain, Heroin Trafficking, West Virginia 2014 · Virginia
- Richard Doman, Failure to Update Sex Offender Registration, West Virginia 2023 · Washington
- Corderro Cody, Sex Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2023 · Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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