A Texas man, Gregory Massey, has pleaded guilty to running a sex trafficking operation with his girlfriend, Patricia Hart, using force, fraud, and coercion. The couple manipulated two adult victims into commercial sex across various locations and usurped their earnings,according to the Justice Department.
Court documents revealed that in the years 2021 and 2022, Massey, 30, along with Hart kept a tight rein on the victims' livelihoods, forcing them to meet daily monetary quotas and dictating their access to basic necessities such as food. Massey's methods included tracking the victims through the geolocation data on their phones to prevent their escape, and resorting to violence when necessary.
The guilty plea, as announced on January 30 by Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, may yield a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison for Massey, with an additional eight years of supervised release. He has also agreed to cough up $128,800 in restitution payments to the victims. Massey's sentencing is slated for May 21, pending court approval of the plea agreement. Additionally, he must register as a sex offender.
Hart had already entered a guilty plea in November 2023 for her role in the conspiracy, with her sentencing expected on March 26. The gruesome case was brought to light by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Louisiana State Police. Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni are handling the prosecution.
