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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A central Missouri man has pleaded guilty to trying to coerce two women to become involved in sex trafficking.
U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson says in a news release Wednesday that 36-year-old Joshua K. Smith, of Camden County pleaded guilty to using force and coercion to make one woman engage in prostitution and soliciting another woman to do so.
KRCG-TV reports that Smith was dating both women at the time of the crimes. He forced one woman to have sex with others, and he kept the money. He asked another woman to start an escort service, which she refused to do.
Smith threatened to kill both women’s families if they didn’t help him.
Smith has agreed to serve 20 years without parole and pay restitution.
