Last week, a Kent County man has been convicted on triple counts, involving the sex trafficking of a minor, sexual exploitation of a child, and the distribution of child pornography, federal prosecutors in Michigan stated. Terrence Clay, 39, faced the unflinching verdict of a federal court jury in the Western District of Michigan, with U.S. Attorney Mark Totten labeling the defendant's actions as treating his victim "like nothing more than property."
During his trial, it was revealed Clay met his underage victim in a Grand Rapids park in early October 2022, engaging in sexual acts with her and then coercing her into sex with others for money he then directed her to publicly advertise specific sex acts via panhandling, while also circulating nude images of her online, according to The Detroit News. The victim was later located in a library and placed in foster care, from where Clay extracted her without the knowledge of the foster family, however, the pair were intercepted by law enforcement shortly after crossing the Mackinac Bridge.
"Today’s guilty verdict on all counts secures a measure of justice for the victim and the entire community who is harmed by these heinous crimes," said Totten. Clay is set for sentencing on September 17. The sweeping investigation involved various agencies, including the FBI and local law enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Constance Turnbull – as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The agencies involved in the case highlight the concerted effort against child trafficking in the Kent County area: Kent County Sheriff’s Office, FBI's WEBCHEX task force, and state police worked in cooperation to ensnare Clay—the case also forms part of 'Project Safe Childhood', dedicated to fighting child exploitation nationwide. "The conviction of Terrence Clay is a testament to the exceptional investigative work carried out by our WEBCHEX task force in partnership with law enforcement agencies to combat child trafficking," Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, Cheyvoryea Gibson, said, per the U.S. Department of Justice.
While reflecting on the broader community impact of such crimes, Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young remarked on the ongoing progress in prosecutions and community relationships to "further enhance Kent County’s response to sex and labor trafficking." Clay's criminal past includes a previous conviction for assault and weapons charges in 2017, with earlier drug charges in 2008 and 2009. After his parole from state prison in June 2022, Clay now faces a potentially lengthy federal sentence for his convictions, as cited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
