Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Two Underage Girls

PHILADELPHIA - United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Quinyon Speller, aka "Que," 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 276 months' imprisonment, 15 years of supervised release, and $177,200 in restitution by United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro for sex trafficking two minors.

The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in March 2025 and pleaded guilty this February to sex trafficking of a minor by force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion, and attempt; sex trafficking of a minor, and attempt; and sex trafficking by force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion, and attempt.

"Quinyon Speller treated two vulnerable girls as his personal property, manipulating them and making money off of their sexual exploitation," said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. "While we can't erase the harm that he's done, at least we've made him answer for it. Today's sentence brings some justice for his victims and keeps him behind bars for decades, so that he can't hurt anyone else."

"Sex trafficking, especially when it involves minors, is one of the most heinous crimes we are charged to investigate," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "This sentencing underscores the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts and reaffirms our shared commitment to protecting young people from exploitation. The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate, prosecute, and bring to justice those who prey upon the vulnerable in our community."

As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from May 2016 through December 2017, Speller trafficked Victim 1 when she was a child. He met Victim 1 when she was approximately 15 years old and began grooming her to engage in commercial sex acts by exposing her to another female who was engaging in commercial sex acts at the direction of the defendant. At some point, Victim 1 believed she was in a relationship with the defendant and started living with him. Shortly thereafter, Speller asked the child to engage in commercial sex acts, claiming he needed the money.

From then on, Victim 1 began engaging in commercial sex acts almost daily, whenever she was in the custody of the defendant. Speller transported her to hotels, motels, and the residences of sex buyers, with the intention that she engage in sex "dates," the term traffickers use for commercial sex acts. All the money earned was surrendered to Speller, who continuously physically abused Victim 1, often choking and beating her.

The defendant also trafficked Victim 2, both when she was a child in November 2014, and as a young adult at various times from December 2015 through 2020. Like Victim 1, Victim 2 was also a runaway juvenile. Victim 2, then 17 years old, was introduced to Speller by another female ("Employee 1") who was dating and "working" for him - that is, engaging in sex "dates" and providing all her earnings to the defendant.

Speller turned violent towards Victim 2 on numerous occasions, including when she asked for more money, if she refused to engage in commercial sex acts, if she refused to give over the money earned from the sex "dates," considered leaving him, or was otherwise out of line. He often provided her with controlled substances as a form of repayment and manipulation.

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 projectsafechildhood.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia's Violent Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Montgomery Township Police Department, Montgomery County Detectives, Hilltown Township Police Department, Delaware State Police, and Tinicum Township Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Priya De Souza and Eileen Castilla Geiger.