Philadelphia Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking a Child

Enoch Smith, 36, a/k/a “Drees,” a/k/a “Idris,” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was convicted today on all charges including sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography. According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Smith operated a prostitution business in Philadelphia between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011. He recruited young women, including a minor (“Minor 1”), to work as prostitutes. Smith would photograph each female in his home with his camera and, using his laptop computer, would create an Internet advertisement for each on a website known as Backpage.com. Smith gave each of his recruits a cellular telephone, which he paid for, and then included that phone number in the Backpage advertisement.

Smith also had sexual relations with the females who worked for him. Smith lived with several of the females who were working for him. The “dates” would take place at the home that Smith leased, and the females gave 100 percent of their cash earnings to Smith. The Philadelphia Police Department learned of the prostitution operation by surveying Backpage advertisements and conducted an undercover “sting” operation at the premises in June 2011. A subsequent forensic examination of Smith’s laptop computer revealed two sexually explicit images of Minor 1, both of which were taken prior to her 18th birthday. Smith was charged locally and was later charged in a federal indictment.

The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment on count one, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment; on count two, a $500,000 fine, a lifetime period of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department Vice Unit, with assistance from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.