Sex Offender Receives Over Two Decades in Prison for Trafficking Minors

Judge imposes 260-month sentence following guilty pleas to sex trafficking charges involving three underage victims

A 34-year-old Camden resident, previously registered as a sex offender, has been sentenced to over two decades in federal prison for trafficking three minors for commercial sex acts. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the sentencing on Thursday, confirming that U.S. Chief District Judge Renée Marie Bumb issued the 260-month prison term in Camden federal court.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 2020 and April 2021, Semaj A. Gilmore transported three minors from Philadelphia into New Jersey, directing them to engage in commercial sex acts. Each victim was under the age of 18. During this period, Gilmore had been required to register as a sex offender due to a prior conviction. 

After previously pleading guilty to three counts of the superseding indictment, Gilmore’s sentence was handed down by Judge Bumb, who also imposed 10 years of supervised release following the prison term.

"U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked members of the Mount Laurel Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance." - Statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Waegener of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden, who presented evidence establishing Gilmore’s role in the trafficking scheme. 

No additional details were released regarding the victims’ identities in order to protect their privacy.