A Florida man has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for sex trafficking two women. Delon Richard Smith, 47, of Daytona, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and was sentenced to 327 months. He was also ordered to pay $4,800 in restitution to the victims.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division condemned Smith’s actions, describing them as violent acts used to exploit victims for personal gain. The case highlights the severity of sex trafficking, which dehumanizes victims and treats them as commodities. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe also commended law enforcement’s efforts and the bravery of the victims.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Smith targeted two women in 2021 and 2022, luring them with drugs and false promises of profit. In the Daytona Beach area, he controlled them through physical violence, including beatings and threats of gang affiliation, and on some occasions, used a firearm to enforce compliance.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley emphasized that sex trafficking is a violent crime rather than a business. The investigation, led by the FBI Jacksonville Field Office and the Daytona Police Department, resulted in Smith’s arrest and conviction. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Leah Branch of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Testerman and Kaley Austin-Aronson for the Middle District of Florida.
Authorities urge the public to report any information on human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1‑888‑373‑7888, available 24/7. Additional information about human trafficking and the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat it is available on their official websites.
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