41-year-old Deryck Alston of Collingdale pled guilty to Trafficking of Persons and Unlawful Contact with a Minor. 26-year-old Amanda Scott, also of Collingdale, pled guilty to Trafficking of Persons, Corruption of Minors, and Prostitution. Alston and Scott are reportedly the first people to be convicted in Pennsylvania under the Trafficking of Persons state law, adopted in 2007.
A third person, 35-year-old Jerome Clemons of Collingdale, pled guilty to three counts of Promoting Prostitution.
Alston, Scott, and Clemons were arrested after posting a personal ad online featuring what appeared to be a topless underage female, stating in part "We Can Give You What U Need!! 50 Dollar Sunday Special".
A medical expert viewed the ad and determined that the girl was likely anywhere between 12 and 16 years of age. Investigators uncovered sixteen ads using the same phone number for interested customers - four of which depicted the underage female in question. Police say the ads were posted in the Philadelphia adult section under the category "escorts" and contained buzz words used to indicate sex in exchange for money.
An undercover investigation was conducted, during which an officer called the number posted on the ads and made contact with a woman who identified herself as "Ebony". The officer met "Ebony" at a residence in Collingdale, Delaware County and recognized her as the female pictured with the underage female in one of the advertisements. "Ebony" offered to perform sex acts on the undercover officer in exchange for money and was immediately arrested and identified as Amanda Scott.
Scott identified the underage female pictured in the ads and also identified her "pimp" as Deryck Alston. Scott said that Alston along with another male took photographs of the juvenile female for the advertisements. Investigators found the juvenile and interviewed her about the operation. She told them that Alston was her "pimp" and that if she disobeyed him he "would put his hands on [her]."
Alston was sentenced to 18-60 months followed by 10 years of sex offender probation. He is also required to register as a Megan's Law offender for 10 years. Scott received a sentence of 1 year less 1 day to 2 years less 1 day in prison followed by 5 years of sex offender probation.
Clemons received just over 3 to 23 months in prison followed by 4 years of sex offender probation.
Anyone with information regarding suspected human trafficking is urged to contact the Delaware County District Attorney's Office at 610-891-4851.
