CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming could soon enforce stricter prison sentences for adults facing repeat human trafficking convictions.
A new bill set to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session would impose a minimum 25-year prison sentence to adults who have multiple felony convictions of human trafficking.
The minimum 25-year prison sentence is already imposed when trafficking of minors leads to a conviction.
The proposed repeat offender rules would apply to anyone convicted of human trafficking after the age of 18.
Under Wyoming law “a person is guilty of human trafficking in the first degree when the person intentionally or knowingly recruits, transports, transfers, harbors, receives, provides, obtains, isolates, maintains or entices an individual” for the following purposes:
- Forced labor or servitude
- Sexual servitude
- Sexual servitude of a minor
Human trafficking is considered a second degree offense when “the person recklessly recruits, transports, transfers, harbors, receives, provides, obtains, isolates, maintains or entices an individual” for the above-named purposes.
First degree human trafficking can come with the following punishments for first time offenses:
- imprisonment for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 50 years
- a minimum of 25 years in cases involving minors
- fines up to $10,000
Second degree human trafficking can come with the following penalties:
- imprisonment for a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 20 years
- fines up to $10,000
Both first and second degree human trafficking are considered felonies.
The Wyoming Legislature’s spring session is set to begin on Feb. 10.
Further details of the proposed legislation is available online.
