Convicted Human Trafficker Anthony Michael Smith Urged to Surrender by Girlfriend
The girlfriend of wanted convicted human trafficker Anthony Michael Frank Smith is urging him to surrender to the police if it is the right thing to do. Smith, who recently became the country’s first convicted human trafficker, was found guilty in absentia last Thursday on five offenses out of a total of 26 charges. These charges include sexually penetrating a child, child prostitution, assault, and recruiting a child for trafficking. The alleged offenses were committed against a 16-year-old girl between January and March 2015.
Smith is accused of removing his electronic monitoring device and absconding in late September. Concerned for his safety, his girlfriend expressed her wishes for Smith to surrender and emphasized that they are thinking about him. She believes that if surrendering is the correct course of action, he should follow through.
In response to the case, charging officer Cpl Dane-Marie Marshall revealed that Smith lured his teenage victim to a bar in East Trinidad under the pretense of offering her a job. However, he informed her that the job actually involved prostitution, which she initially refused. Unfortunately, the victim was eventually forced into prostitution in 2015, with Smith allegedly arranging for her to have intercourse with a foreign national at a hotel in Port-of-Spain. The victim subsequently endured beatings, sexual attacks, and humiliation from Smith as well as other clients, including police officers.
Smith has faced previous legal trouble in the past. He has been charged with selling alcohol without a license and aiding and abetting lewd and suggestive dancing. Despite these charges, Smith’s girlfriend defends him, stating that he is not the person that the country is portraying him to be. She describes him as a caring and wonderful person who took care of her when no one else did.
While the girlfriend refrained from disclosing her age at the time she met Smith, she alleges that the victim’s family was aware of their relationship. She expressed dissatisfaction with the eight-year duration between his arrest and conviction, with Smith spending five years behind bars awaiting trial and three years out on bail. According to her, justice should have been swifter.
She also criticized the decision to release Smith on bail, arguing that the ankle monitor he was required to wear exceeded the promised duration. She points out that his ability to work and live freely was hindered during his time on bail. The girlfriend demands swift justice for Smith and questions why the case is only considered important now after eight years.
Since Smith’s disappearance, his girlfriend has faced numerous challenges. His face being plastered all over the media has affected their business, causing significant losses. Smith, who was leasing a bar in Tunapuna for $16,000 monthly, had his contract terminated due to his absconding. While Smith’s whereabouts remain unknown, three men at the bar expressed shock over the allegations and stated that they finally understood why he was no longer operating the establishment.
Attempts to locate Smith at the given address in Tunapuna were unsuccessful. The woman who answered the door claimed that he used to live farther down the road.
In conclusion, the girlfriend of Anthony Michael Smith, a wanted convicted human trafficker, is appealing to him to surrender if it is the right thing to do. She believes he is a wonderful person and wishes for his safety. Meanwhile, the case has raised concerns about the delay in justice and the decision to grant Smith bail. The search for Smith continues as the allegations against him resonate throughout the community.
