Glen Burnie Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking of a Minor

BALTIMORE, MD—A federal grand jury indicted Derwin Smith, age 42, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, today for sex trafficking of a minor.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Anne Arundel County Police Chief James Teare, Sr.; and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee.

According to indictment, on June 4, 2010, Smith recruited a minor female to engage in sex acts for pay at his direction. The indictment alleges that Smith enticed the girl to engage in these acts by offering her a luxury home and status as his “bottom girl.” A “bottom girl” is considered to be an individual who works closely with the pimp and is typically in charge of the girls that work for the pimp. From June 4 through June 7, 2010, Smith allegedly provided the girl with shelter, clothing, food and other items to facilitate sex acts and instructed the girl on pricing for different sexual activities. The indictment alleges that Smith coerced the girl to engage in sexual activity and Smith received money and other things of value in exchange. According to the indictment, Smith asserted authority over the girl by having her engage in sexual activities with him and by threatening her with a gun.

Smith faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Smith’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court has not yet been scheduled. Smith remains detained on related state charges.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

The case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please www.justice.gov/usao/md/Human-Trafficking/index.html.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Details about Maryland’s program are available at www.justice.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Anne Arundel County Police Department and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel M. Yasser and Sandra Wilkinson, who are prosecuting the case.