Grand Rapids man gets 300 months for trafficking and sexually exploiting a minor

GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Terrence Donte Clay, 39, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for sex trafficking of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.

"Mr. Clay is a sexual predator who preyed on a minor victim, treated her like his property, ordered her to sell herself for sex, and has demonstrated no remorse for his actions" said Totten. "We are committed to fighting the scourge of human trafficking, including both sex and labor trafficking. I appreciate the investigative work by our law enforcement partners to hold Mr. Clay accountable and secure a measure of justice for the victim."

Evidence introduced at trial showed that Clay met the minor victim at a park in the City of Grand Rapids in early October 2022. He had sex multiple times with the victim and ordered her to have sex with other men for money. After securing nude images of the minor victim, Clay advertised her online.

Police found the minor victim in a library, and she was taken to a foster home in the Upper Peninsula, while law enforcement began its investigation. Meanwhile, Clay located the minor victim and picked her up at her foster home early on the morning of Nov. 12, 2022, without the knowledge of the foster family. Shortly after crossing south of the Mackinac Bridge, law enforcement pulled over the vehicle and found the minor victim in the car with the defendant.

"Our Human Trafficking Task Force continues to make progress in prosecutions and building relationships with area victim service providers to further enhance Kent County's response to sex and labor trafficking," said Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young. "It is not lost on us the impact these horrible crimes have on victims and our overall community."