6 from South Carolina indicted in multi-state sex trafficking case

BOSTON, S.C. (WCSC) – An indictment unsealed last week in federal court in Boston charged six people from South Carolina for their alleged involvement in a sex trafficking conspiracy that victimized two children and one adult.

Christy Parker, 26, of Fall River; Alexander Smalls, 25, of Beaufort County; Cory Primo, 42, of Fall River; Avvani Jeffers, 22, of Fall River; Tre’sean Reid, 21, of Beaufort County; and Tyreik Reid, 20, of Allendale, S.C., were indicted on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, according to District of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney spokesperson Christina DiIorio-Sterling.

Jeffers is currently detained pending a detention hearing on Monday. Parker and Primo will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday. Smalls is awaiting trial in South Carolina and will be arraigned in Boston at a later date. Tyreik Reid will appear in US District Court in South Carolina for a detention hearing on Wednesday.

Tre’sean Reid is currently a fugitive, DiIorio-Sterling said.

Prosecutors say the adult victim was trafficked throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and South Carolina. The defendants allegedly kept all the profits for their own financial gain and used threats and violence to maintain control over the victims.

Court documents allege that between January and August of 2023, Parker and Smalls worked together with help from Primo, Jeffers and Smalls’ brothers, Tre’sean and Tyreik Reid, in a scheme to coerce one adult victim and two child victims to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and surrounding states for their exclusive financial gain.

Prosecutors say that in early 2023, Parker reached out to the adult victim, indicating she was homeless and needed a place to live. After moving in with the victim, Parker and her boyfriend, Smalls, allegedly coerced the victim to quit her job and begin engaging in commercial sex, they say.

Parker and Smalls allegedly forced the victim to sign a “profit sharing contact,” which required the victim to “remain loyal and humble and stay focused,” DiIorio-Sterling said. Parker and Smalls then allegedly forced the victim to engage in commercial sex, including scheduling and coordinating commercial sex acts and setting prices, and took all of the profits.

Prosecutors allege Parker used physical violence, threats of violence and other threats to maintain control and that in the spring of 2023, Parker traveled with the victim to South Carolina where she continued sex trafficking the victim and collected all of the profits.

Upon returning from South Carolina, Parker allegedly enlisted help from Primo and Jeffers to traffic the victim throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, prosecutors say.

Parker is also accused of trafficking a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old.

“The allegations in this case are truly chilling. One minor victim in this case was forced to engage in sex for money with many men. That young girl is someone’s daughter, she is someone’s granddaughter. It is hard to conceive of more vile conduct than what is set forth in these charges,” Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said. “Sex trafficking is not a distant problem – it is happening right here, in our neighborhoods, and often goes unnoticed or unreported. Our office is relentlessly pursuing individuals who inflict such exploitation and suffering simply to line their own pockets. We are using every resource at our disposal to hold perpetrators accountable and seek justice for every victim.”

“For months, these victims endured brutality and depravity allegedly at the hands of these individuals,” New England Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol said. “While these arrests are a significant step toward securing justice, we recognize that this marks only the beginning of three survivors’ paths toward recovery. HSI New England, together with law enforcement partners, is committed to ensuring all trafficking victims are given access to the programs, services and resources necessary to their future healing and success.”

The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $ 250,000.

The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

A federal district court judge imposes sentences based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

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