In a landmark case signaling a hardline stance against sex trafficking and related violence, Omari Scott, also known by the monikers "Prince" and "Sir Prince," has been convicted on a murder charge in the course of sex trafficking, as well as the sex trafficking of an individual referred to as Jane Doe 2. According to a release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, Scott was found guilty following a trial that shed light on his activities along a notorious strip in Brooklyn known as the "Penn Track." This area has gained infamy for its open-air sex market.
Prior to the trial that ended Scott's reign of terror, he had pleaded guilty on May 16, to promoting prostitution and sex trafficking regarding another victim, identified as Jane Doe 1. Yet, it was his subsequent trial that unveiled his role in the fatal shooting of Cleveland Clay, a rival trafficker, effectively making Scott the first individual to be convicted of murder in the course of sex trafficking after a trial. Facing a minimum of 15 years to a maximum life sentence, Scott must now reckon with the consequences of his actions.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, who jointly announced the verdict, collectively painted a grim picture of Scott's operations. "The Penn Track has been a blight for too long and my Office and our law enforcement partners are working diligently to prosecute violent sex traffickers who promote prostitution by exploiting vulnerable victims and endangering the entire community," said United States Attorney Nocella, in a statement that highlights their collaborative efforts against such criminal enterprises, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Of these efforts, the FBI's involvement proved crucial. Assistant Director in Charge Raia stated, "Not only did Omari Scott force women to perform sexual acts, but he murdered those who threatened to steal his twisted source of revenue." This statement underscores not only the physical but also the economic violence at play in such trafficking rings. In addition, Raia declared the FBI's unwavering commitment to dismantling such networks, confirming their resolve to put an end to the cycle of violence and exploitation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The court proceedings detailed how Scott violently reclaimed Jane Doe 2 from the grasp of Clay, amidst the latter's effort to break free from the shackles of Scott's control. In a string of heartless acts, Scott went as far as to lament, "I don’t got no hoes right now," upon realizing Jane Doe 2's intention to depart for Clay, as obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Following Scott's recruitment of another trafficker, Michael Simmons, for the murder, it was Simmons who executed Clay by multiple shots, later succumbing to his wounds, with Simmons awaiting his sentence for his complicity in these grim events.
The prosecution team was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Reid, Anna Karamigios, and Miranda Gonzalez of the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section.
