South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking in Massachusetts
A South Carolina man pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit sex trafficking in Massachusetts, using physical abuse, threats, and coercion to force a victim into commercial sex acts between January and August 2023.
Alexander Smalls, 27, of Beaufort, South Carolina, admitted to conspiring with others to traffic an adult victim in Fall River, Massachusetts, between January and August 2023. Prosecutors allege Smalls and co-defendant Christy Parker used physical violence, threats, sleep deprivation, and starvation to coerce the victim into repeated commercial sex acts. They also imposed fabricated debts, controlled alcohol consumption to induce seizures, and threatened to remove the victim’s minor child from her care.
Smalls continued directing the trafficking operation from jail after his March 2023 incarceration on unrelated charges, coordinating with Parker until her arrest in August 2023. Five co-defendants have already been convicted, with sentences ranging from time served to 70 months in prison. Parker, who pleaded guilty to multiple trafficking charges, awaits sentencing, while Smalls faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Federal authorities described Smalls’ conduct as predatory, emphasizing the use of psychological and physical abuse to exploit the victim for financial gain. The case highlights the collaborative efforts between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and the District of Massachusetts to investigate and prosecute human trafficking offenses.
The investigation, led by HSI Boston Field Office and the Fall River Police Department, uncovered a broader network of traffickers. Prosecutors noted the case underscores the resilience of survivors while holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.