In a decision that highlights the ongoing battle against human trafficking, Troy Shelvin Cannon of Las Vegas received a prison sentence exceeding 15 years for sex trafficking involving fraud, force, or coercion. The judgment, delivered in a federal court today, imposes a 188-month term for Cannon, as the U.S. Department of Justice reported. Following a three-day trial in April, a federal jury convicted Cannon, finding him guilty of exploiting an adult female, coercing her to perform commercial sex acts from which he profited.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed Cannon's control tactics, including threatening texts to the victim. These messages served to forcefully compel her to continue to engage in prostitution against her will, with Cannon saying, “And ima choke you so hard” and “You making this ass whooping worse,” among other threats. The threats turned into a brutal reality on December 20, 2023, when Cannon assaulted the victim, resulting in substantial injuries, including significant swelling and bruising, as detailed by the Justice Department's press release.
According to the Department of Justice news release, U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath condemned Cannon's actions, stating, “Cannon used violence and intimidation to exploit a human being for profit.” The imposed sentence is seen as a measure to hold individuals like Cannon accountable while conveying that such crimes driven by greed will not be tolerated. The case prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek Ko, Katie Grammenidis, and Lyndzie Carter also reflected McGrath's denunciation of such acts.
Cannon, who previously attempted to traffic an undercover detective in 2021, now faces a maximum penalty that includes life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, and Coercion under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1591(a) and (b)(1).
