Detroit Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography Charges

DETROIT – A Detroit man was convicted by a federal jury today on charges of sex trafficking a minor and producing child pornography, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan.  

Lavonte Sampson, 39, was convicted following a five-day jury trial before United States District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. The jury deliberated approximately two hours before returning their verdicts. 

Evidence presented at the trial established the investigation began when the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force conducted an undercover operation to recover a missing 15-year-old girl.  A search of her cellular phone uncovered Facebook messages wherein Sampson recruited her to engage in commercial sex work.  He took pictures of her and advertised her online for commercial sex. He took her to a motel in Detroit, where he arranged dates between her and other men and collected the proceeds. Sampson also had sex with the victim, recorded it without the victim’s knowledge, and sent that video recording to the undercover agent when arranging a date.  

U.S. Attorney Ison stated, “This defendant exploited a vulnerable child. He sold her body to other men for his own personal gain. Combatting human trafficking remains one of our office’s top priorities, especially when it involves children. We will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to battle the sexual exploitation of vulnerable victims in our communities and ensure that predators are held accountable. And while we aggressively pursue this type of justice for all human trafficking victims, at all times, this verdict today, during the end of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, puts a fine point on our unwavering commitment to this important work.” 

“The FBI is deeply committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, particularly our children, and bringing predators like the defendant to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. “We would like to extend our appreciation to our wide network of law enforcement partners, particularly those on the FBI’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes (SEMTEC) Task Force, for their critical support in investigating sexual predators who commit crimes against children. The FBI encourages continued vigilance, cooperation, and reporting from the public to help identify and recover victims and bring perpetrators to justice. If you believe you may have any information on crimes of this nature, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or online at report.cybertip.org.”

The Court will schedule a sentencing hearing at a later date.  Sampson faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum up to life.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to educate ourselves and raise awareness in our communities about this devastating crime that violates the most basic human rights –freedom.  If you are a victim of human trafficking or suspect you know one, please call the FBI, your local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cowen, Jeanine Brunson, and Ranya Elzein.