Kinston Man Sentenced for Human-Trafficking-Related Offense

GREENVILLE – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard sentenced KORTNEY DONNELL CREWS, 32, of Kinston, North Carolina to 120 months’ imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

CREWS was named in an Indictment filed on April 19, 2019, charging him with, among other offenses, transportation across state lines for prostitution (Mann Act).  On September 9, 2019, CREWS pled guilty to that charge.

According to the investigation, CREWS prostituted numerous women across the United States. He lured them by promising big money, and then took most or all of their earnings. CREWS threatened or intimidated many of his victims and physically assaulted and emotionally abused one victim for years.

Mr. Higdon commented:  “Crews’ actions, his abuse of these women, is a form of human trafficking.  He used threats, intimidation, and physical abuse to force these women to humiliate and degrade themselves.  And the Court’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this crime.”

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Blondel and Bryan Stephany represented the government.