After a seven-day trial, Kevin Lavon Giles has been convicted by a federal jury of sex trafficking two minors and one adult. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., alongside Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Giles, 59, from Detroit, faced four counts: two for sex trafficking children through force, fraud, or coercion; one for sex trafficking an adult under similar circumstances; and another for committing a felony against a minor while being registered as a sex offender. His requirement to register as a sex offender stemmed from a 1986 conviction for Criminal Sexual Conduct. The trial was presided over by United States District Court Judge Terrence Berg. Giles is now facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison with the possibility of life imprisonment.
During the trial, it was revealed that Giles exploited his victims by making them perform commercial sex acts in exchange for shelter for themselves and their children. Two victims were minors at the time they were trafficked. He advertised these acts online, arranged meetings, and collected payments from them. Witnesses also testified about his use of hidden cameras to monitor and direct these activities.
“If you question whether evil exists, you have your answer,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “We are called to protect women and children. This man abused and exploited them to fill his pockets.”
Cheyvoryea Gibson commented on the case saying: “The conviction of Kevin Giles, a registered sex offender, reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting our citizens, especially the most vulnerable from those who seek to exploit them.” He expressed gratitude towards the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes (SEMTEC) Task Force for their investigative work emphasizing that human trafficking remains a top priority.
The FBI’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force led this investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Princ and Ranya Elzein prosecuted on behalf of the United States.
