BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for racketeering offenses relating to the promotion of commercial sex.
Kevin Smoot, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to time served (approximately 22 days) and three years of supervised release. The government recommended a sentence of one year in prison. On April 12, 2021, Smoot pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses and seven counts of use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution offenses.
Between February 2019 and June 2020, Smoot conspired with others to promote commercial sex involving several women. Smoot transported women to and from commercial sex appointments, recruited and encouraged them to engage in commercial sex acts for money and helped to procure illegal drugs for use by the drug-addicted women. In addition, Smoot provided a residential location for commercial sex acts between female victims of sex trafficking and male customers, taking actions to collect money from male customers, and benefiting from the proceeds.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey; Matthew B. Millhollin, 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
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