Human Trafficking Ring in Philadelphia Leads to 22 Arrests; Alleged Ringleader and Daughter Charged

The Pennsylvania attorney general revealed Tuesday that twenty-two persons, including a father and daughter, were charged with suspected involvement in a human trafficking network that operated mostly out of a Northeast Philadelphia home from 2012 to 2023.

During a press conference Tuesday morning in Center City, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry stated that investigators suspect additional trafficking victims have yet to come forward.

According to Henry, 52-year-old Terrance Jones allegedly ran the human trafficking organization from his house in Philadelphia’s Oxford Circle neighborhood. Jones was detained on Friday and accused of corruption, human trafficking, involuntary servitude, criminal conspiracy, and related charges.

Henry identified Jones as the suspected ringleader of a human trafficking organization that targeted vulnerable young women in their twenties who were battling with substance abuse and trying to stay clean. The 52-year-old reportedly victimized over a dozen young women for his human trafficking business in the Philadelphia area and South Jersey.

p”These are crimes that all of you know often occur in the dark,” Henry was saying. “They often include victims who lack robust support systems or community assistance. Frequently, they are battling with drug issues or earlier traumas.

The Pennsylvania State Police and Attorney General’s Office began its investigation into the human trafficking ring in 2021 when a victim’s friend came forward. Henry described the testimony of the unidentified victim, who eventually testified before a grand jury, noting that her story was similar to those of other victims who claimed to be involved in the ring.

Henry characterized the victim as having left a sober family in South Philadelphia, struggling with substance misuse and hunting for money. The victim allegedly spotted an online escort job advertisement and contacted someone named Julie.

However, Henry believes that “Julie” was Jones, who had altered his voice to sound like a woman to recruit commercial sex workers. Henry stated that the people Jones recruited believed they were chatting with a lady.

“Julie” allegedly promised the girl that she would have a driver pick her up and take her on pre-arranged “dates.” Jones hired the drivers as well. Henry went on to say that “Julie” allegedly told the victim that she would tell her how much money to collect from each “date,” or sex buyer, and that the victim would deliver the money to the drivers.

According to Henry, the woman was subsequently driven to other locations, where she was given illicit narcotics and performed commercial sex acts for purchasers. The driver later seized the victim’s money and drove her back to his residence, where he raped her.

“The conduct in this situation is worrisome. Henry said, “It is cruel and callous.” “Terrance Jones and his co-conspirators took advantage of young vulnerable women and exploited their suffering to line their own pockets.”

Investigators were able to identify that Jones was reportedly running the human trafficking operation from his house on Disston Street in northeast Philadelphia.

According to Henry, Jones also pushed himself on some of the ladies during their escort service interviews.

“As all human traffickers do, he dehumanized these young women and used them as a commodity to further his trafficking enterprise,” Henry told me.

Jones’ righthand man, Thomas Reilly, 54, was a hired driver who was charged with similar acts as Jones, as well as rape and other sexual assault charges, according to the AG’s office.

According to the AG’s office, Jones’ daughter, Natoria Jones, the enterprise’s financial manager, was also prosecuted.

Three further drivers, James Rudolph, Rhaheem Hill, and Joseph Franklin, were charged. There were also 16 commercial sex buyers: 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.

“I’d like to thank all of the sexual assault survivors who have come forward and shared their tales. “Those are the ones who make our community safer by speaking their truth,” Henry stated. “This wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Anyone who believes they have been victimized by this group is encouraged to contact state police at 215-452-5239.

22 people charged in connection with Philadelphia human trafficking ring, AG’s office says