In a case that underscores the harrowing reality of human trafficking, a Florida man has been convicted on multiple counts related to the sex trafficking of nearly a dozen women and girls. Shannima Yuantrell Session, 47, from Lake Placid, faced justice as a federal jury found him guilty on 13 charges after a nine-day trial in the Southern District of Florida. Leveraging false promises of work and housing, Session coerced his victims, some suffering from substance abuse and economic instability, into commercial sex acts.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke harshly condemned the actions of Session, stating, "The defendant used despicable and horrific means to terrify and coerce nearly a dozen women and girls to engage in commercial sex," in a statement obtained by the Justice Department. She further emphasized the Department's commitment to "protecting vulnerable victims from such cruel exploitation." U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe echoed this sentiment, affirming the priority of their office to vindicate the rights of human trafficking victims and prosecute those who treat human beings as commodities.
Session's conviction was largely due to the evidence presented during the trial, which laid bare the manipulative tactics he used to prey on those in compromised situations. His methods ranged from withholding food to violently assaulting his victims to ensure their compliance. Evidence indicated that he would not permit one of his victims to eat if she did not follow his instructions and often demanded victims to engage in sexual activity with him after their forced encounters with other men.
Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI Miami Field Office and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, highlighting how this cooperative spirit helped to finally put an end to Session's reign of abuse. According to the press release, these agencies worked tirelessly together to swiftly bring Session to justice. The accused used violence and intimidation freely, with reports detailing how he would punch victims without leaving marks and, in one instance, fired a shot into the air to recapture a fleeing victim.
With the sentencing hearing set for December 19, Session faces a minimum of 15 years to a maximum life sentence in prison, including mandatory restitution. The federal district court judge will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors to determine the appropriate sentence. The FBI and local sheriff’s office were instrumental in the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover along with Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
The Justice Department urges anyone with information about human trafficking to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, available 24/7. More resources and information on efforts to combat human trafficking can be found on the Justice Department's website.
