Oceanside Sex Trafficker Gets 30-Year Sentence

An Oceanside man who forced a girl into prostitution, gave her a daily quota of customers and took all of the proceeds was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison.

Maurice Lerome Smith, 41, was convicted in May of sex trafficking of children and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Smith was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez.

According to evidence at trial, Smith set up online ads offering commercial sex acts with the girl. Smith would book rooms and drive the victim to motels, and then took all of the money she earned from prostitution, according to prosecutors.

The victim testified that she met the defendant online in 2009.

In her testimony, the victim said that in September 2010, while walking in San Diego, Smith forced her to get into his car and later physically assaulted her with a belt, had sex with her and then drove her to a motel to work as a prostitute.

The defendant told the victim that if she didn't get into the car she would be "in pieces in the trunk," she said.

— City News Service