2 Young Women Forced Into Prostitution In Mercer County: Cops

Four people have been indicted on 19 counts of human trafficking, sexual assault, promoting prostitution, and other crimes, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced on Tuesday.

Darrell Smith, 47, of Trenton, allowed a young woman to stay at his home, but was forcing her to engage in prostitution against her will from Dec. 16-23, 2017, according to authorities. He is also accused of sexually assaulting the woman.

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Smith was arrested and charged in December 2017, and indicted in March 2018. During the ensuing investigation, detectives said they found another victim and evidence that three other people were involved.

Authorities said 33-year-old Jennifer Willis was also living at the house at the time, and was placing sexually suggestive ads of herself and the young woman online.

The other alleged victim was living in the house from October 2017 through February 2018, authorities said. She was also forced into prostitution by Smith, Willis, 28-year-old Gabriel Tabor and 37-year-old Shannon Heisler, according to authorities.

Willis and Tabor are accused of posting sexually suggestive ads for the second victim while Smith was in jail.

Smith, Willis, Tabor and Heisler, all of Trenton, have been indicted on the following charges:

• First-degree conspiracy;
• Four counts of first-degree human trafficking;
• Two counts of second-degree facilitating human trafficking;
• Three counts of third-degree promoting prostitution;
• Second-degree promoting organized street crime; and
• Third-degree tampering with a witness.

Smith is also charged with third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree terroristic threats, third-degree criminal restraint and four counts of second-degree sexual assault.

Onofri credited Detective Alicia Bergondo and his office’s Human Trafficking Unit with the investigation leading to the indictment. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Heather Hadley.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Bergondo at 609-278- 4859.

The attached image of Darrell Smith was provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.