PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The man accused of leading a Philadelphia-based human trafficking operation that ran for more than a decade has been convicted on all eight charges against him.
Terrance L. Jones, 54, was convicted Thursday following a one-day trial in Philadelphia, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Jones was found guilty of charges including felony human trafficking and involuntary servitude. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 11.
Authorities said Jones headed a highly profitable criminal organization that generated hundreds of thousands of dollars annually through the exploitation of vulnerable women.
According to investigators, Jones posed as a woman named “Julia” while recruiting commercial sex workers. Drivers hired by Jones would then transport the women to and from meetings with sex buyers.
The Attorney General’s Office said Jones specifically targeted women who were dealing with substance use disorders or other difficult circumstances.
“This defendant, for years, treated human beings as means to a dollar, deceiving them into a web of control, abuse, and exploitation,” Sunday said in announcing the verdict.
Sunday said human trafficking cases can be difficult to prosecute and credited the Pennsylvania State Police and investigators who worked the case.
The charges stemmed from a lengthy investigation into an operation authorities said was run from Jones’ Philadelphia residence between 2012 and February 2023.
Investigators previously charged 21 additional people in connection with the organization in 2024, including drivers, alleged conspirators and commercial sex buyers.
Authorities said all but one of those defendants have since been convicted. Boris Volinsky’s case remains pending.
Those previously charged included Jones’ daughter, Natoria Jones, who prosecutors said helped manage finances for the organization, along with drivers Thomas Reilly, James Rudolph, Rhaheem Hill and Joseph Franklin.
Commercial sex buyers charged during the investigation included 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 and Gregory Doto.
Jones is expected to be sentenced Dec. 11.
