PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The leader of a Philadelphia-based human trafficking ring has been convicted of eight charges, including felony human trafficking and involuntary servitude, says Attorney General Dave Sunday.

Terrance L. Jones, 54, was convicted Thursday following a one-day trial in Philadelphia. The man will be sentenced on Dec. 11.

The Attorney General’s Office says Jones was the head of a highly profitable criminal organization that generated hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

The man posed as a female (“Julia”) to recruit commercial sex workers, who were taken to and from “dates” by drivers hired by Jones, AG Sunday said.

The attorney general says he chose recruits who were dealing with substance abuse disorder or other hardships.

“This defendant, for years, treated human beings as means to a dollar, deceiving them into a web of control, abuse, and exploitation,” Attorney General Sunday said.

“Human trafficking convictions are very challenging, and there was a long road to get to this point. I commend our partners with the Pennsylvania State Police for collaborating on a complex investigation that brought this long-running criminal enterprise to an end,” he added.

The charges resulted from a years-long, comprehensive investigation that heard testimony and determined the operation ran out of Jones residence from 2012 through February 2023.

21 additional people were previously charged in 2024, including drivers, conspirators, and commercial sex buyers. All but one of those defendants have been convicted, authorities say.

The AG’s Office says among those charged are:

Thomas Reilly, one of the hired drivers

Natoria Jones (Terrance Jones’ daughter), who served as a financial manager

James Rudolph, Rhaheem Hill, and Joseph Franklin (drivers)

Commercial sex buyers: Joseph Szegila, Christopher Wood, Stephen Osborne, Pasquale Difelice, Steven May, Michael Bonczak, Brian Smith, Christopher Bello, Jonathan Fellenz, Robert Brutsche, Kevin Bullock, Boris Volinsky, Brian Nice, Gary Ames, Grady Durham, and Gregory Doto

According to a news release, Volinsky’s case is still pending.