By: Yuritza Arroyo
Authorities in Atlantic County announced on January 18 an Atlantic County jury convicted Tahir Gregory, 43, of Atlantic City, on two counts of First-Degree Human Trafficking and two counts of Third-Degree Promoting Prostitution.
According to officials, Gregory was charged on September 29, 2017, with the human trafficking and promoting prostitution of two women. Officials say of the course of the two-week trial, the two victims identified Gregory as their pimp over a period of time.
The defendant would use their addiction to heroin against them.
According to authorities, he went so far as to attempt to control one of the victims from the county jail.
The two victims testified he would also use physical abuse and threats of physical abuse to control them.
Authorities say both victims testified that he confiscated any money they would earn due to the actions he forced them to participate in.
Gregory took one of the two victim’s identification, including her birth certificate, as a way to control her.
Since then, both victims have entered the recovery phase of their addiction and were strong enough to testify and face the defendant at trial.
Assistant Prosecutor Deirdre Laws represented the State at trial. A.P. Laws stated, “Because of the victims’ strength, they ended Gregory’s reign of trafficking and spared future victims.” Sentencing is scheduled for March 7.
Pursuant to the human trafficking statute, Gregory faces a minimum of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison, where he must serve all 20 years without parole.