Posted on: August 9, 2023, 11:27h.
Last updated on: August 9, 2023, 11:27h.
A man accused of sex trafficking a runaway girl in Las Vegas is set to appear in court on Thursday for his alleged crimes.
Vincent Grayson, 50, is facing charges of sex trafficking a child under 18, kidnapping a minor, and child abuse/neglect.
The teen and Grayson were spotted at Harry Reid International Airport in April and were later detained.
Grayson was arrested on Monday and is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center.
Alert LVMPD Officer
The allegations were brought to light when an officer from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) noticed that the girl was sleeping on the airport floor.
The officer conducted a background check and discovered that the girl had been reported as a runaway from home a week prior, as reported by Las Vegas TV station KLAS.
In January, she initially met Grayson. The relationship evolved from friendship to a sexual one, according to police.
Two Dozen Customers
She left home on April 13 and moved in with Grayson. He then began forcing her into sex work, where she had approximately 20 clients in just one week.
Grayson instructed her to be “quick with it” for each encounter so that she could quickly move on to the next customer.
On April 19, Grayson and the victim were evicted from their motel.
Grayson then ordered the teen to work as a prostitute on Cameron Street near Tropicana Avenue, an area known for high levels of prostitution, according to the police.
She engaged in sexual acts with four clients in exchange for money. She earned $1,100 for her services.
However, all the money went to Grayson. According to the arrest report, “He walked up to her after every date and collected the money.”
Unable to secure a room at a local hotel, Grayson and the victim slept at the airport and charged their cell phones there.
The LVMPD officer noticed the teen and approached her and Grayson. The abuse/neglect charge was added after Grayson allegedly yelled at the teen, pulled her by the shirt, lifted her up, and threw her against a wall.
The girl’s age has not been disclosed, but she is under 18 based on the charges filed.
She does not appear to have sustained serious injuries during her time with Grayson.
Prior Conviction
Grayson previously served a six-month jail sentence.
In 2015, he was arrested for being a fugitive from another state and for conspiracy to commit forgery. He was convicted on the forgery charge.