Grand Rapids man gets 300 months for human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor – 9&10 News

GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Terrence Donte Clay, 39, of Grand Rapids, has been sentenced to 300 months in prison for sex trafficking of minors, sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.

”Mr. Clay is a sexual predator who preyed on a minor victim, treated her like his property, instructed her to sell herself for sex, and has shown no remorse for his actions,” Totten said. “We are committed to combating the scourge of human trafficking, including sex and labor trafficking. “I appreciate the investigative work of our law enforcement partners to hold Mr. Clay accountable and ensure some measure of justice for the victim.”

Evidence presented at trial showed that Clay met the minor victim in early October 2022 at a park in the city of Grand Rapids. He had sex with the victim several times and ordered her to have sex with other men for money. After securing nude photos of the minor victim, Clay promoted her online.

Police found the minor victim in a library and she was taken to a foster home in the Upper Peninsula while police began an investigation. Meanwhile, Clay found the minor victim and picked her up from her foster family early on the morning of November 12, 2022, without the foster family’s knowledge. Shortly after crossing south of the Mackinac Bridge, police stopped the vehicle and found the minor victim in the car with the suspect.

“Our Human Trafficking Task Force continues to make progress prosecuting and building relationships with area victim services providers to further improve Kent County’s response to sex and labor trafficking,” said Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young . “It is not lost on us the impact these terrible crimes have on the victims and on our community as a whole.”