Terrance L. Jones, 52, has been arrested leading to the disbanding of the Philadelphia-based human trafficking ring and charges against 22 people, according to PA AG.
Jones had posed as a woman, known as Julia, to recruit commercial sex workers, who were then taken to and from "dates" by drivers Jones hired, the attorney general's office said.
He ran the operation from his residence from 2012 through February 2023, according to a new release from the attorney general's office. He used the Julia persona to recruit commercial sex workers who believed they were speaking to a woman.
Jones chose recruits who were dealing with substance abuse disorder or other hardships, the news release states.
"Also charged are Natoria Jones (Terrance Jones’ daughter), who served as a financial manager; three other drivers; and 16 commercial sex buyers," the Ag wrote in the release.
Jones was charged with corrupt organizations, trafficking in individuals, involuntary servitude, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses, according to the attorney general's office. He was arrested on Oct. 18 and arraigned with bail was set at $2 million.
Thomas Reilly, 54, one of Jones' hired drivers, was charged with similar offenses, along with rape and other sexual assault offenses, the Ag said in the release. He was arraigned with bail was set at $1 million.
Drivers James Rudolph, Rhaheem Hill, and Joseph Franklin were also charged along with the following individuals listed as commercial sex buyers:
- Joseph Szegila
- Christopher Wood
- Stephen Osborne
- Pasquale Difelice
- Steven May
- Michael Bonczak
- Brian Smith
- Christopher Bello
- Jonathan Fellenz
- Robert Brutsche
- Kevin Bullock
- Boris Volinsky
- Brian Nice
- Gary Ames
- Grady Durham
- Gregory Doto
The charges are the culmination of a "years-long, comprehensive" investigation by the Attorney General's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and 50th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, which "heard testimony and returned a presentment about conduct spanning from 2012 to 2023," the news release states.
Anyone with information about Jones is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations at 215-452-5239.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Lower Merion-Narberth and receive free news updates.