Bissonnet sex trafficker convicted for conspiracy involving adult and child victims

HOUSTON - A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a Houston man on charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking of children as well as forcing and coercing adults to engage in commercial sex acts, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Jonathan Smith-Byrd, 35, guilty on six counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion as well as three counts of enticing and coercing another to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution following a seven-day trial.

From January 2014 to October 2022, Smith-Byrd used force, fraud and coercion to cause five women to engage in commercial sex. Three of the victims were minors when he trafficked them.

He posted commercial sex advertisements on Backpage.com and trafficked the victims on the Bissonnet "track" in Houston - an area near I-59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street. Smith-Byrd also made them engage in sex acts across state lines such as Nevada, Louisiana, Florida, New Mexico and others using force and violence during travel to maintain control.

One or more of the victims made multiple attempts to escape, but Smith-Byrd responded with threats and severe physical assaults, causing the victims to lose consciousness and sustain serious injuries.

Testimony revealed details of the sex ads as well as Smith-Byrd's horrible assaults, some by using a padlock put inside a sock and belt that was broken as a result of the beatings. One of the victims suffered sustained multiple fractures to her jaw, requiring reconstructive surgery and resulting in partial facial paralysis. The jury also saw evidence of the injuries to include hospital records, photographs and physical items used to brutalize the victims.

He kept 100% of the proceeds.

Smith-Byrd seemed to acknowledge in his defense that he may have assaulted some of the women, but that it was not trafficking, just domestic violence. He further attempted to convince the jury the women were acting as independent contractors in prostituting themselves and the case was simply a love triangle gone wrong. The jury did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks presided over the trial and set sentencing for Aug. 3. At that time, Smith-Byrd faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Lu and Sherin S. Daniel are prosecuting the case.

HTRA law enforcement includes members of the Houston Police Department, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General's Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, DOL - Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration - OIG and Sheriff's Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney's offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.

Established in 2004, the U.S. Attorney's office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.