Springfield Man Charged with Racketeering Offenses Relating to Prostitution

BOSTON – A Springfield man was indicted yesterday with racketeering offenses relating to the promotion of commercial sex. 

Kevin Smoot, 59, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses and seven counts of use a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses. On June 26, 2020, Smoot was arrested and charged by complaint and has been detained since his arrest.

According to the charging documents, between February 2019 and June 2020, Smoot conspired with others to promote commercial sex involving several women. Smoot promoted prostitution by transporting females to and from commercial sex appointments, recruiting and encouraging women to engage in commercial sex acts for money, and helping to procure illegal drugs for use by drug-addicted women engaged in commercial sex. It is further alleged that Smooth promoted prostitution by providing a residential location for commercial sex acts between female sex workers and male customers, taking actions to collect money from male customers, and benefiting from the proceeds of commercial sex acts performed by female sex workers.

The charging statutes provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. 

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.